When you ask most Zambian artistes what award they dream of winning, nine times out of ten, the answer is the Grammy. For 66 years, the Grammy Awards have represented the pinnacle of global music recognition, and while African stars such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Angélique Kidjo, Tyla, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Tems, Black Coffee, and Miriam Makeba have all been nominated or won, no Zambian artiste has yet broken through. But that could soon change. In 2023, the Recording Academy introduced a new category: Best African Music Performance, opening a long-awaited window for artistes across the continent, including Zambia, to gain recognition on the world’s biggest music stage. Last year, Channel ATV, a Seattle-based media outlet, submitted works by Zambian...
