Nigerian music witnessed a cross bag of results at the 2024 BRIT Awards, held on Saturday, March 2nd, at the O2 Arena in London as Afrobeats giants Burna Boy, Rema and Asake missed out on winning their respective categories.
It was a mix of emotions as the highly anticipated 2024 BRIT Awards concluded on Saturday, March 2nd. While Afrobeats has received well-deserved recognition with three nominations, the night ultimately ended without any wins for the genre’s representatives.
Burna Boy and Asake, two of Afrobeats’ leading figures, were nominated in the competitive International Artist of the Year category. They faced off against a star-studded list of nominees, including Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey. However, it was American artist SZA who emerged victorious in this category.
Burna Boy & Asake Lose Brits International Act of the Year Award to SZA. pic.twitter.com/v75nmR7xNQ
— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) March 2, 2024
Completing the trio of Nigerian nominees, Rema’s hit song Calm Down was in contention for the International Song of the Year award. Though the track garnered significant international acclaim accumulating billions of streams, it ultimately wasn’t enough to secure the win. It was Flowers by 31 year old American singer, Miley Cyrus that took the trophy home.
Despite not taking home any trophies, it is noteworthy that the nominations themselves marked a significant moment for Afrobeats on the global stage. The genre’s presence at the BRITs, one of the most prestigious music award ceremonies in the world, signifies its growing influence and recognition within the international music industry.
Rema & Selena Gomez “Calm Down” lose Brits International song of the year to Miley Cyrus ‘Flowers’. pic.twitter.com/Twrg8itmSB
— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) March 2, 2024
While Burna Boy, Asake, and Rema may not have secured wins this time around, their nominations undoubtedly solidified Afrobeats’ position as a force to be reckoned with in the global music landscape.
