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South African music gets three Grammy nods

9 December 2015

South African music is proving it can hold its own, with three Grammy nominations for the 2016 awards, to be announced in February 2016 in Los Angeles.

South African new age instrumentalist Wouter Kellerman has earned his second consecutive Grammy nomination. His new album, Love Language, has been selected in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category. Kellerman won a 2015 Grammy for best new age album for his collaboration with American musician Ricky Kej for the album Winds of Samsara.

Congratulations to @wouterkellerman nominated for 2016 Grammy Award - Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. pic.twitter.com/QjSNZdwuji

— SAMRO (@SAMROMusic) December 8, 2015

The Lady Smith Black Mambazo album Music from Inala has been nominated in the category Best World Music Album. It is Lady Smith Black Mambazo's 16th Grammy nomination. The singers last won the same category in 2013 for Live: Singing for Peace around the World.

Inala is a multi-disciplinary performance piece featuring music, dance and art that highlights the singing group's rich history and contribution to South African culture. The sold-out show, which premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2015, is a collaboration by the group with classical composer Ella Spira and members of the Royal Ballet Company. It fuses Western and South African culture under the theme of "abundance of goodwill".

Congrats to @therealmambazo on another Grammy nomination and making SA proud! We're sure you'll win the big one! pic.twitter.com/7pzWHIrCcd

— Afternoon Express (@AfternoonChat) December 7, 2015

Newcomer to the awards is South African gospel singer Neville D (Neville Diedericks), who received a collaborative nomination for his participation on the song How Awesome Is Our God, by gospel group New Creed. Also performing on the song are international gospel stars Yolanda Adams and Israel Houghton. It has been nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song.

Diedericks is one of Cape Town's most popular gospel artists. He has written and performed with a variety of local and international artists including Judith Sephuma, Rebecca Malope and Keith Sweat.

It was not a dream at all. Dove award and a #Grammynomination in one year. #Nowords pic.twitter.com/Mdxy2R61im

— NewAlbumInStores (@NevilleDMusic) December 8, 2015

The Grammy show will take place on 15 February 2016 in Los Angeles. Hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar, pop singer Taylor Swift and Canadian dance-soul producer The Weeknd are all vying for the awards' top honours with seven nominations each.

Source: News24