By Thabiso Sekhula
Speaking about the drama surrounding “Jerusalema”, Nomcebo Zikode said: “I once made a song that took the world by storm and put the people together, but I didn’t get this award nor a nomination.”
Then she said: “But God told me to give you ‘Bayethe’.”
The artist can finally put the three long years year old Jerusalema drama behind her as she adds an official Grammy award to her CV for “Bayethe”.
She graciously accepted the award at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles for the song which also features South African greats, Zakes Bantwini and two time Grammy award winner, Wouter Kellerman. Fellow South Africa Trevor Noah was the host for the Grammys.
The three attended the ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and received the Global Music Performance award in the same category that included Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Ghana’s Rocky Dawuni among other global stars.
Nomcebo has come out previously to share that amidst the things that went wrong in her career including legal battles about “Jerusalema” which went on to become the most Shazamed song in history. She said God told her that “Bayethe” was the song she had to get out – and how the song has paid off for the 38-year-old vocalist.
South Africans celebrated the incredible moment with the three on social media.
First tweet:
Wake up South Africa, Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman have won a Grammy#GRAMMYs #Grammys2023 #zakesbantwini #bayethe
— anele ✌💜🌍 (@anele_mgobozi) February 6, 2023
2nd:
Team 5am! Waking up to the sounds of Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini & Wouter Kellerman who have won a Grammy Award For Best Global Music Performance. 🇿🇦 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!#GRAMMYs #Grammys2023 #zakesbantwini #bayethe pic.twitter.com/wBLlgCe2Ij
— Liezel V 🦒 (@liezelv) February 6, 2023
In other Africa superstar grammys news, our own Tems also begged her first Grammy with Future’s hit song Wait For You where she was featured alongside Drake and the American rapper. She had been nominated for three awards and became the first Nigerian female artist to bag a Grammy.
