Kenya’s bid to host the Africa headquarters of the Recording Academy has gained momentum, with officials outlining plans to advance key milestones.
Recording Academy President Panos A. Panay said work was underway to establish the foundations for a stronger African presence in the global music industry.
Panay spoke after meeting Kenyan President William Ruto and later addressed creative economy stakeholders in Nairobi.
He described the process as similar to gardening, saying patience and sustained effort were needed to produce lasting results.
The Recording Academy, which organises the Grammys, has expanded its engagement with African music in recent years.
The Grammys introduced the Best African Music Performance category four years ago. The Academy also established an American Music Mentorship Programme with the US State Department.
Kenya won the bid to host the proposed Africa Recording Academy headquarters. The Kenyan government has committed $3.9 million towards establishing the hub.
President Ruto said the investment aims to help transform Kenya’s creative economy into a sustainable source of income for artists.
Recording Academy officials also confirmed that Kenyan mentee artists are expected to travel to the United States next month.
Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, said establishing a stronger African presence within the Grammys would require a long-term approach.
He pointed to the Latin Recording Academy’s development as an example of how structures and networks can take years to establish.
Panay, Abud and media executive Nicholas Weinstock are visiting Nairobi as part of a US Embassy-Kenya creative economy collaboration.
