While some were disappointed about Burna Boy and Trevor Noah’s Grammy losses, for some the story was different. Despite releasing an exceptional album which quite frankly most thought it would be an obvious Grammy win, Burna Boy’s African Giant failed to get a Grammy.
This caused an uproar of excitement among AKA’s Fans as clearly they still have hard feelings towards the Nigerian superstar after he had a Twar with AKA which was sparked by a rather sensitive matter of xenophobia comments made.
The #AKAwinanga hashtag actually started a few years ago when AKA lost out on every award category he was nominated in at the 22nd South African Music Awards (SAMAs) in 2016. Every year since, whenever the rapper gets nominated for an award and walks away empty-handed, the hashtag (which translates to ‘He did not win’) resurfaces and trolls have a field day with him.
This time around the hashtag resurfaced in the wake of the Grammy Awards took place on Sunday night. Burna Boy, who is AKA’s “nemesis”, was nominated in the Best World Music Album category and the African Giant eventually lost out on the award to Beninese singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo. The musician dedicated the award to Burna during her acceptance speech.
“This is for Burna Boy. He is among those young artists who came from Africa who are changing the way our continent is perceived, and the way African music has been the bedrock for every type of music,” she said, praising the Nigerian superstar.
South African black Twitter took a different route in its commentary. Tweeps had a field day while reflecting on Burna Boy’s Grammy loss, taking it as an opportunity to remind the muso of how ‘disrespectful’ he was towards Mzansi and especially AKA. All people have wanted is an apology from Burna for the longest time, but it doesn’t look like it’s coming any time soon.
Supa Mega could have used this to further shame Burna Boy but the father of one took the high road. He especially respected his fellow musician when he said, “In any case, Burna is still a champion. We still consider him a winner.”
I never hated Burna Boy. All I did was stand up for my country. I think it’s time to move past this narrative. It’s tired. Like I said, even a nomination is a huge achievement. https://t.co/Qw0B5I8LT3
— AKA (@akaworldwide) January 27, 2020
What you should have done is focus on the positive instead of thinking about me and my country. In any case, Burna is still a champion. We still consider him a winner. https://t.co/PGuy5cAT2i
— AKA (@akaworldwide) January 27, 2020
Social media users agree with Bhova who said that a nomination is still a win as the recognition is massive. That did not stop some members of Black Twitter from celebrating Burna Boy’s loss though.
Can we at least hear the speech you prepared for the Grammys if you had to win @burnaboy? #AkaWinanga pic.twitter.com/5EYnNDczVw
— wise (@wise30152072) January 27, 2020
We were not gonna hear the end of it if Burna boy had won that award… But look at God #AKAwinanga pic.twitter.com/hWPL2pFXc4
— ????????????????????’???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ✪ (@kyngkhokhas) January 27, 2020
We were not gonna hear the end of it if Burna boy had won that award… But look at God #AKAwinanga pic.twitter.com/hWPL2pFXc4
— ????????????????????’???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ✪ (@kyngkhokhas) January 27, 2020
#AKAwinanga me after receiving the gud news about this Nigerian a$$ pic.twitter.com/rtEIubSGGF
— Sphamandla Zungu (@SphamandlaZung9) January 27, 2020
