Kenya made history by hosting the African Grammys, marking a major milestone for the continent’s music industry and celebrating African talent on a global stage
In a groundbreaking development for Africa’s creative economy, Kenya has officially secured the rights to host the first-ever African Grammy Awards, marking a defining moment for the continent’s music and entertainment industry.
The move, made possible through a partnership between the Kenyan government and Grammy Global Ventures — the international arm of the Recording Academy — positions Kenya as the home of the African Grammy Academy, a regional hub set to elevate African talent on the global stage.
To secure hosting rights, Kenya has paid a total of USD 2.5 million (approximately KSH 324 million) as a founding member fee, with the government confirming an overall investment of KSH 500 million (around USD 3.9 million) to develop infrastructure and programming tied to the initiative. The Africa Grammy Awards Centre will be established at Konza Technopolis, a futuristic smart city project south of Nairobi.
Within this 160-acre Digital Media City, Kenya is partnering with the Republic of Korea to construct a state-of-the-art creative hub that will serve as the headquarters for the African Grammy operations, talent incubation, and industry research.
Hosting the African Grammys represents more than just a national achievement for Kenya — it signals a continental shift in how Africa’s music industry is recognized, structured, and promoted internationally.
The presence of the Grammy Academy on African soil will open unprecedented opportunities for artists across the continent, giving them direct access to Grammy-affiliated programs, educational resources, mentorship, and recognition that were once limited to artists in the United States and Europe.
It will also allow African music professionals — producers, engineers, songwriters, and performers — to participate in decision-making and award submission processes under the Grammy banner.
Economically, the move is expected to be transformative. Kenya’s creative economy is projected to receive a boost through tourism, job creation, and international investments, as global entertainment brands, studios, and record labels turn their attention to the continent. Hosting Grammy-branded events in Africa could inject millions into local economies while raising the continent’s profile as a legitimate global entertainment powerhouse.
Culturally, this milestone cements Africa’s growing influence in the global music industry. In recent years, genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afro-fusion have dominated international charts, prompting the Recording Academy to introduce the Best African Music Performance category in 2023. Establishing the African Grammy Centre is the next logical step — creating institutional recognition and physical infrastructure to support the music ecosystem behind those hits.
According to reports, at least two African countries must join Kenya as founding members by paying the same USD 2.5 million fee to fully operationalize the African Grammy Academy. Once established, the organization will oversee training, certification, and regional award programs, laying the foundation for a full-scale African Grammy Awards event projected to debut around 2029 or 2030.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth, Creative Economy, and Sports described the project as “a bold declaration that Africa’s creativity deserves global respect and investment.” He added, “By bringing the Africa Academy to Kenya, we are anchoring a future where Africa’s voice becomes central in shaping the world’s music narrative.”
The African Grammy initiative is a monumental stride toward ensuring that African artists — from Nairobi to Lagos, Monrovia to Johannesburg — have equal access to the same recognition and resources as their global peers. For the continent, it is not just about music awards; it is about ownership, representation, and creating a legacy that honors Africa’s sound and spirit for generations to come.
