Kenya advances bid to host Africa Recording Academy headquarters

Kenya is advancing its bid to host the Africa Recording Academy headquarters, an initiative supported by officials from the California-based organization that presents the Grammy Awards. Following a meeting between Academy President Panos A. Panay and Kenyan President William Ruto, officials noted that key milestones have been reached in the effort to expand the Academy’s presence on the continent.

Kenya is competing with Nigeria and South Africa to host the hub, having already invested $3.9 million toward the project. As part of this development, Kenyan artists are scheduled to travel to the United States next month to gain experience in the international music business.

Panay highlighted recent progress in the African music industry, including the introduction of the Best African Music Performance category at the Grammys and the establishment of the American Music Mentorship Program in partnership with the U.S. State Department. The Academy also aims to increase its global reach by enrolling more African members into its peer-voting body.