Kenya invests Rwf5.3 billion in bid to host African Grammy Awards

Kenyan president William Ruto on Monday, December 9, announced that the country has officially submitted a bid to host the Grammy Awards. Ruto made the development while speaking at a town hall meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to mark the second anniversary of the Hustler Fund—a state-run initiative aimed at enhancing financial access for individuals and small businesses. Ruto revealed that Kenya has invested Ksh. 500 million (approximately Rwf5.3 billion) in its bid and emphasized his administration's dedication to strengthening the creative industry and positioning the country as a leader in global entertainment. ALSO READ: Recording Academy meets Rwandan creatives as expansion plan takes shape This move aligns with recent initiatives by the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards, to spotlight Africa’s musical talent on the global stage. Earlier this year, the Academy introduced the inaugural Best African Music Performance GRAMMY category at the 2024 GRAMMYs, celebrating recordings that embody unique local expressions from across the continent. Additionally, the Academy announced partnerships with various Ministries of Culture across Africa and the Middle East to support music creators and extend its global reach. Key collaborators include Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, the UAE, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, among others. According to Kenyan media outlet Citizen Digital, Dennis Itumbi, Kenya’s Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, revealed that his office has instructed the State Department to facilitate the payment for Kenya’s bid to host the “African Grammys.” ALSO READ: Grammy Awards 2024: ‘Afrobeat’ gets due recognition after 65 years He highlighted the strategic outcomes of President Ruto’s engagements with prominent figures in the creative economy during a visit to the United States, including interactions with Hollywood icons at Tyler Perry Studios. “Kenya is focused on growing its creative economy and positioning itself as a destination for global entertainment events,” said Itumbi. He added that a Grammy Awards representative, who attended the town hall, is scheduled to meet Ruto later this week to discuss the bid further. “We’ve already instructed the State Department to finalize the payment, reinforcing our determination to host the African Grammys headquarters,” he noted. The Ksh. 500 million is already paid. This is not just a plan—it’s a done deal, Ruto said. I’m confident that our efforts are on track, as the representative from the Grammys here can attest. Notably, the Latin Grammy Awards made history in 2023 by hosting their ceremony in Seville, Spain—the first time the event was held outside the United States. This milestone came through a three-year partnership with the Andalusian government, celebrating the deep cultural connections between Latin America and Spain. In contrast, the main Grammy Awards, which spotlight the global music scene, have consistently taken place in the U.S., primarily in Los Angeles and New York. The Latin Grammys' international expansion highlights their unique mission to showcase the diversity of Latin music worldwide, a move that Kenya might emulate in its bid for the African Grammys.

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Kenya invests Rwf5.3 billion in bid to host African Grammy Awards