Despite controversy at home and a decade late, the Grammy win proves how much the world loves South Africa’s biggest house music star.
His rhythmic sounds connected with the diaspora and his collaborations with stars like Drake and Beyoncé elevated his name.
Of a record nine nominees, seven are from West Africa. The global rise of Afrobeats music owes its soul to Nigeria’s iconic star Fela Kuti.
Afrobeats emerged when West African pop music became cool. It has been boosted by the diaspora, big name collaborations and American culture.