With her “Pamoja” album one of six nominees for Best Reggae Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards, Etana is naturally overjoyed. The singer is even more elated, that she is the first woman nominated twice in this category.
Nominees for the 64th Grammys were announced November 23 in Los Angeles. The event takes place January 31 at the Staples Center, also in LA.
“To be nominated is a great achievement. It truly is an honor to know other creators in music thought my album was worth their vote. These are other incredible people in music who recognized my works in such a prestigious way! It’s major and I’m grateful,” said Etana.
Her first call was in 2019 for “Reggae Forever”. At the time, she was the first woman nominated for Best Reggae Album since Sister Carol’s Lyrically Potent in 1997.
The other nominees for Best Reggae Album 2022 are “Live N Livin” (Sean Paul, “Ten” (Spice), “Royal” (Jesse Royal), “Positive Vibration” (Gramps Morgan) and “Beauty in The Silence” by SOJA.
“Pamoja” is the follow-up to “Gemini” which Etana released in 2020. She had high expectations for that set but was unable to properly promote it because of Covid-19 restrictions.
This year has been different. Though her itinerary was not as packed compared to pre-Covid-19, Etana still performed on shows throughout the United States.
There are 11 collaborations on “Pamoja”; artists on the album include Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, Alborosie and Vybz Kartel.
Toots And The Maytals won the 2021 Grammy for Best Reggae Album with “Got to be Tough”.
Written By Howard Campbell