By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
When music’s elite gather at the Crypto.com Arena this Sunday, February 1, 2026, for the 68th annual Grammy Awards, the glitz of Hollywood will collide with the grit of a national crisis. With the United States reeling from civil unrest and the controversial arrests of high-profile journalists, Recording Academy President Harvey Mason Jr. describes the ceremony as “medicine” for a divided nation. As host Trevor Noah prepares to navigate a night of high-stakes performances, the evening promises a historic shift toward the African continent—positioning global music as a vital tool for unity amidst profound social upheaval.
Music as “medicine” for a fractured America
Harvey Mason Jr. believes music is a unique tool for healing. He views the 2026 ceremony as a necessary dose of medicine for a country grappling with division. “You’re going to hear and feel what’s going on in the world through the music,” he told CNN. He noted that while some artists may speak out against the current Trump administration, the “passion in the art” will serve to bring people together. The push for global representation is not just about diversity; it is about finding common ground. Mason argues that the globalization of music fosters empathy during times of domestic unrest.
Minneapolis in mourning: Protests and the call for accountability
The “medicine” Mason speaks of is intended to soothe a nation reeling from the violent immigration crackdown known as Operation Metro Surge. Tensions have reached a breaking point in the streets of Minneapolis following the recent killings of two residents by federal agents. Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and mother, was fatally shot in her car on January 7. Just over two weeks later, on January 24, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was gunned down while acting as a legal observer. Both were U.S. citizens whose deaths have sparked massive “ICE Out” protests and statewide strikes.
Mason acknowledges that musicians are “communicators” who will reflect this national pain. “You’re going to hear and feel what’s going on in the world through the music,” Mason said. “Maybe some people will choose to speak out about it, but you’re definitely going to feel it in the music, in the performance, in the passion that goes into the art.”
Press freedom under fire: The release of Lemon and Fort
The shadow over this year’s ceremony deepened with the federal arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. Lemon, a former CNN anchor, was arrested by federal agents at a Beverly Hills hotel while in town to cover Grammy events. Emmy-winning filmmaker Georgia Fort was arrested at her home on Friday morning. A federal grand jury has indicted both on two felony counts: conspiracy to violate civil rights and violating the FACE Act. Both journalists were released without bond on their own recognizance Friday afternoon. Lemon vowed to fight the charges, telling reporters outside the courthouse, “I will not be silenced.” Fort added that “documenting what is happening in our community is not a crime.” The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) condemned the arrests as an effort to “criminalize newsgathering.”
A legacy of resistance and rhythm
The most poignant moment of the night will be the posthumous honoring of Nigerian icon Fela Kuti. He will become the first African artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime
Achievement Award. This recognition comes nearly three decades after his death in 1997.
“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time,” his son Seun Kuti said. “Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it is a double victory.” Seun added that the recognition is vital for the “global human tapestry,” noting that his father “always reminded us that he was in service to others more than himself.”
Fela Kuti was more than a musician; he was a cultural theorist and political agitator. His manager, Rikki Stein, noted the recognition is better late than never. “He wasn’t doing what he was doing to win awards. He was interested in liberation. Freeing the mind,” Stein said. “He was fearless. He was determined.”
Ghana’s imprint and the 2026 outlook
While Fela Kuti is a Nigerian hero, his sound was forged in the highlife bars of Accra. During the 1950s and 1960s, Ghanaian legends like E.T. Mensah and Ebo Taylor provided the melodic DNA for what would become Afrobeat.
Fela Kuti spent significant time in Ghana absorbing highlife’s structure and horn phrasing. “In this sense, Afrobeat is not only Nigerian,” the historical record notes. “It is West African, pan-African, and diasporic in origin, carrying Ghana’s musical imprint at its foundation.”
Despite this deep heritage, the 2026 nominations have sparked debate in Accra. No Ghanaian artists made the final shortlist this year, leading to calls for more “education” on the Academy’s voting processes to ensure Ghana’s vibrant scene is recognized in the future.
Burna Boy and the African vanguard
The contemporary African wave will be led by Burna Boy. He will enter the night with nominations for Best African Music Performance for “Love” and Best Global Music Album for “No Sign of Weakness.” With 13 career nominations, the Nigerian star represents the bridge between Fela’s ideology and modern chart dominance.
“We are seeing African music move from influence to infrastructure,” said Tuma Basa, YouTube’s director of music culture. Joining the vanguard of nominees are Davido and Omah Lay for “With You,” Ayra Starr for “Gimme Dat,” South Africa’s Tyla for “Push 2 Start,” and Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo for “Hope & Love.” Basa emphasized the role of the diaspora, stating, “If African music is the fuel, the diaspora is the transmission.”
Global unity through the arts
Addy Awofisayo, head of music for sub-Saharan Africa at YouTube, believes that when the culture is represented correctly, “that’s when culture actually moves forward.”
Harvey Mason Jr. remains “excited by the globalization of music,” viewing it as an opportunity for “more understanding, more empathy, more commonality.” Last year, the Academy added over 3,800 diverse members to its voting body.
“I think music has a unique ability… especially at a time when there’s so much division,” Mason said. As African artists sell out arenas in London and New York, the Grammys will finally reflect a borderless reality. For the millions watching across the African continent, Sunday night will be more than an awards show. It will be a validation of a culture that has always been global.
