News Brief

Aug. 23, 2018 09:38AM EST

Remembering the Great Malian Musician Khaira Arby

The "Nightingale of Timbuktu" died in a Bamako hospital following heart problems.

Khaira Arby, also known as the "Nightingale of Timbuktu" and the "Diva of the Desert," passed away on Sunday at a Bamako hospital.

Her son confirmed the news, saying she had been receiving treatment for heart problems.

Arby, a widely celebrated songwriter and recording artist, had long been popular across the globe and in her home for her powerful raw vocals, as well as her blend of Saharan desert blues with funkier sounds.

She was very outspoken, often using her songs and position to speak out for social issues like female empowerment in Mali.

In 2012, when Islamist extremists imposed sharia law over a large swath of northern Mali, and with it a ban on music, she was a stood in strong opposition.

Her and several other Malian musicians' fight during that arduous time was captured in the documentary They Will Have To Kill Us First: Malian Music In Exile,which OkayAfrica executive produced.

"If you ban music in Mali, or in the whole world, it's like cutting people's oxygen off," Arby said in the documentary.

Once the Islamist militants were pushed back, it was Khaira Arby started an effort to hold the first concert in Timbuktu since the invasion.

"She just got out on the street and started singing with a few local musicians, and everyone just came out of their houses and just started floating towards the sound — it was extraordinary," recalls Johanna Schwartz, the director of They Will Have to Kill Us First.

Khaira Arby's music led her to play festival across the world, from Mali's own Festival Au Desert to Bonnaroo Music Festival in the United States.

She was buried near her family home in Bamako and is survived by a daughter, five sons and 14 grandchildren.

People have been reacting on social media and paying tribute since her passing on Sunday. See some reactions below.

West African icon Khaira Arby from #timbuktu, has passed away. Khaira was a brave woman with a powerful defiant voi… https://t.co/esw9eMb9L3
— Daniel Campos (@Daniel Campos) 1534728504.0

We are saddened by the loss of Khaira Arby. Arby was one of the great Malian singers and life forces. Known as the… https://t.co/XuIDjwLd2N
— Glitterbeat Records (@Glitterbeat Records) 1534745071.0

And now we've lost the queen of Timbuktu music - KHAIRA ARBY - open your ears to something extraordinary. The Sway… https://t.co/F2Jruk4avj
— Harvey Fierstein (@Harvey Fierstein) 1534980015.0

We never forget you. Khaïra Arby rest in peace ! #KhaïraArby https://t.co/4pVOApKCMd
— Sagaïdou BILAL (@Sagaïdou BILAL) 1534724832.0

Khaira Arby has passed, may her memory be a blessing. A lot of beauty, intricacy & power left the mortal coil this… https://t.co/Cl3Heysium
— Charming Hostess (@Charming Hostess) 1534728428.0

Called to Allah. Rest in peace #KhaïraArby https://t.co/GSyN4gWktt
— Yousci (@Yousci) 1534750224.0

Music

(Photo by Ernest Ankomah/Getty Images)

Was Burna Boy Snubbed at the Grammys?

Love, Damini was one of the contenders for Best Global Music Album and his global-charting record “Last Last” was nominated for Best Global Music Performance, however the Nigerian singer lost both awards.

The 65th annual Grammy Awards were held last night at the Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles. As expected, the event swarmed with outstanding artists and personalities with ravishing looks. Before the event commenced, onlookers and fans tipped their favourite artists to bring home the award, especially Nigerians who were hyped to see the likes of Tems and Burna Boyrepresenting the country on a global stage.

Gone are the days when being nominated for a prestigious award like the Grammy Awards as a Nigerian artist came as a shock. Nigerian music has been on a trajectory in recent years, winning over the global audience. In 2021, Burna Boy set history as the first Nigerian to win a Grammy Award as a lead artist in the Global Music Album category (previously Best World Music Album). His latest studio album Love, Damini was again one of the contenders for the Best Global Music Album category this year and his global-charting record “Last Last” was nominated for Best Global Music Performance. However, the singer lost both awards, failing to add to his list of international plaques.

Following the announcement at the award show, when Tems emerged as a Grammy Award winner in the “Best Melodic Rap Performance” category for Future’s “Wait For U” and Burna Boy wasn’t declared winner of any of the two categories he was nominated in, was a trail of reactions on social media.

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Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Africa was Well Represented At The 2023 Grammys

The West's biggest night in music started off with a bang, a snub, and a whole lot of shimmer.

Music's big night out brought out some of Africa's biggest and brightest to lend their glamour to the red carpet.

Here are the African musicians attending the 2023 Grammy Awards:

Tems

Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The world belongs to Tems, baby! The Nigerian songstress becomes the first female Nigerian artist to win a Grammy award as she scooped her Best Melodic Rap Performance win alongside American rapper Future and Drake on their hit collab 'Wait For U'. Draped in a custom Viviane Westwood evening gown, the singer continues to break records as she adds the latest win to her abundant collection.

Trevor Noah

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

South African comedian Trevor Noah was tasked with keeping tonight's crowd entertained and in order during the ceremony at Los Angeles's Crypto.com arena.

Rocky Dawuni

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Ghanaian singer-songwriter Rocky Dawuni brought along his beautiful daughter Safiyah Dawuni to celebrate his nominated single "Neva Bow Down" featuring Jamaican Blvk H3ro. The two-time Grammy-nominated musician lost out on this year's award for Best Global Music Performance.

Yola

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

British-born Ghanaian Barbadian singer-songwriter Yola attends the award show for her work in the 2022 musical/drama hit Elvis.

Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Halala! South African threesome Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, and Nomcebo Zikodeshowed up to snag this year's Best Global Music Performance award for their hit single "Bayethe." The collaborator's win set the internet ablaze as they beat Africa's Giant, Nigerian artist Burna Boy.

Doja Cat

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Doja Cat is clearly having a ball with her fashion sense lately, this time, the "Woman" songstress channeled her inner femme fatale in a black leather look by Versace. The singer was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Record of The Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap Performance, and Best Solo Performance.

Eddy Kenzo

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo waved the flag proudly this Sunday as he attended as the country's first Grammy nominee to date. The crooner missed out on this year's Best Global Music Performance award for his track "Gimme Love" with American rapper Matt B, but we trust the Masaka-born star will be back with a vengeance.

News Brief

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini & Wouter Kellerman Win Grammy Award For Best Global Music Performance

The South African artists won for their song "Bayethe" award at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

South African artists Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini, and Wouter Kellerman, and scored a win for their hit song "Bayethe" at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony.

The three SA artists won over Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo, USA’s Matt B, Ghana's Rocky Dawuni, and Pakistan's Arooj Aftab in theBest Global Music Performance category at the Grammy Awards.

The South African winning trio consists of Nomcebo Zikode, who is renowned as the singer in "Jerusalema," singer, record producer and singer Zakes Bantwini, and celebrated flutist, producer and composerWouter Kellerman.

According to ZALebs, during a prestigious Grammy's brunch dedicated to African nominees a day before the award show, both Zikode and Bantwini expressed excitement about the potential win. According to the publication Zikode had stated that she felt like she had already won the award.

“I’m hoping that South African people are going to be proud of me, we’re hoping to take this one but hey, if we don’t take it, it’s OK, I feel like I’m a winner already,” Zikode said at the time.

This is the first time Zikode and Bantwini win a Grammy. Kellerman won the award in 2015 for his album Winds of Samsara.

Previously, some controversy surrounded the song "Bayethe," with OkayAfrica reporting reporting that Zikode would be taking Open Mic Records to court after the singer alleged that the South African record label had told Spotify to take down the song over an intellectual property dispute. It is unclear where the lawsuit currently lies.

Several fans of the record took to social media to gleefully congratulate the South African artists for the accolade.

Watch the music video for the Grammy-winning "Bayethe" below.

\u201cWake up South Africa, Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman have won a Grammy\n#GRAMMYs #Grammys2023 #zakesbantwini #bayethe\u201d
— anele \u270c\ud83d\udc9c\ud83c\udf0d (@anele \u270c\ud83d\udc9c\ud83c\udf0d) 1675642942

\u201cBayethe deserved the Grammy! Congratulations to South Africa \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 \n\nhttps://t.co/0hVQVcwSUt\n\n#GRAMMYs #Bayethe #LastLast\u201d
— DR. WORLDWIDE (@DR. WORLDWIDE) 1675640157

“Nomcebo & Zakes just won a GRAMMY for Bayethe 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎 #Grammys2023 #Nomcebo #Zakes #Bayethe”

\u201cNomcebo & Zakes just won a GRAMMY for Bayethe \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0e \n#Grammys2023 #Nomcebo #Zakes #Bayethe\u201d
— MINO \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 (@MINO \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6) 1675636777

Watch the music video for the Grammy-Winning "Bayethe" below.

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