With the first round of voting for the 67th Grammy Awards still ongoing, Ghanaian artist Blakk Rasta has submitted his album Salaga Soljah for consideration in the Best Reggae Album category.
Remarkably, it is the only African reggae album vying for nomination, among over 75 eligible submissions received for consideration in this category.
Other internationally renowned artists, such as Vybz Kartel (Party With Me), The Wailers (Evolution), UB40 (UB45), and compilations like Jamaica Festival Song 2024 Competition and Celebrating Jamaica 62, have also been submitted.
According to the Recording Academy, the Best Reggae Album category “recognizes excellence in albums of reggae music, including roots reggae, dancehall, and ska.”
To be eligible, albums must contain more than 75% playing time of new reggae recordings, with featured artists, producers, and engineers eligible for nomination only if they contributed more than 50% of the project’s playing time.
Blakk Rasta’s Salaga Soljah is a live-recorded, twenty-track album performed in English, French, and several African languages, including Dioula, Dagbani, Hausa, Sissala, Akan, and Gruni.
The album also features collaborations with international reggae stars like Anthony B, Tiken Jah Fakoly, and King Ayisoba.
Blakk Rasta remains optimistic that a nomination or possible Grammy win for an African reggae album would underscore reggae’s impact and relevance on the African continent.
He believes that winning Best Reggae Album at the Grammy Awards would honor the legacy of reggae pioneers Bob Marley and The Wailers.
Nominees for the 67th Grammy Awards will be announced on November 8, 2024, with the main awards ceremony set for February 2, 2025.
Credit: myjoyonline.com
