'Ngeli ni ya Genge!' Genge music one of three categories added to 2024 Grammy Awards

 The category additions and amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s most recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting, held last month.

“The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.

Genge Music, a uniquely Kenyan sound created by veteran rappers Jua Cali and Nonini and masterfully fashioned by producer Clemmo, has also been included in the 2024 Grammy considerations under the newly-crafted Best African Music Performance category.

In a public statement, the Grammys included Genge music alongside some other more notable African music genres, including Afrobeats, Amapiano and Ndombolo.

"A track and singles category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Highlighting regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions, the category includes but is not limited to the Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres, " the statement read.

To date, no Kenyan has ever won a Grammy Award although a multitude of African artists have won the coveted gilded trophy.

South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nigeria's Tems and Burna Boy, Cameroon's Richard Bona, Benin's Angelique Kidjo and Mali's Tinariwen have all won Grammy Awards.

The unexpected inclusion of Genge music into the 2024 Grammy Awards was widely celebrated by several Genge pioneers in Kenya.

On his part, Genge trailblazer Mejja wrote, "Respect to my Godfathers - Juacali na Clemmo na mbogi ya Calif. Mliona vision tukasonga nayo, wengi wakatukanwa tukazidi Mungu halali. Tumekufa nayo na tutazikwa nayo!"

US-based Genge luminary Nonini too celebrated the news and also revealed that having Genge music included into the Grammys was no easy feat. 

"I think it's only right that i update all by bio's online! Kwani Kesho? Also just spoken to an insider from the Grammys all they have told me is that it was a battle to get Genge the Genre listed," he wrote.

A man of few words, Jua Cali only wrote, "Ngeli bado ni ya Genge! Mama We Made It!"