Ministry Clarifies Agreement with Grammy

December 19, 2024 – Nairobi, Kenya

Following recent statements by President William Ruto regarding significant financial expenditures to host the Grammy Awards in Kenya, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports has issued a clarification. The ministry detailed their agreement with Grammy Global Ventures (GGV), an international arm of the Recording Academy, and addressed the President’s announcement, which has sparked widespread discussion.

Background of the Agreement

On September 25, 2023, the Ministry signed an agreement with GGV to establish the Africa Academy headquarters or a center in Kenya. This initiative aims to host Grammy-branded events within the region. Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa also entered similar agreements, making them potential hosts for the Africa Academy as founder members.

Benefits and Financial Obligations

The Ministry emphasized the myriad benefits of hosting the Africa Academy or Center in Kenya. Local music creators would gain access to the Recording Academy’s technological resources, brand, networks, and expertise, enabling them to create original music content that showcases Kenya’s cultural heritage to a global audience. Additionally, the initiative promises significant economic benefits, including job creation, increased business activity, and the development of music production infrastructure. The global exposure of Kenyan artists’ work is expected to boost their earnings substantially.

To fulfill their financial commitments, the Ministry completed the fourth and final installment of the net fee, amounting to USD 2,500,000, this month. They noted that subsequent installments were made at a reduced cost due to the strengthening of the Kenya Shilling against the US Dollar this year.

Grammy Awards Controversy

The controversy arose when President Ruto announced that Kenya had spent half a billion Ksh to host the Grammy Awards, suggesting the event would take place in Kenya. However, the Recording Academy promptly issued a statement clarifying that the Grammy Awards would remain in Los Angeles. They also highlighted that as a nonprofit organization, they do not accept money from foreign governments.

Ministry’s Position

The Ministry clarified that the USD 2,500,000 fee paid to GGV was not for hosting the Grammy Awards but for establishing the Africa Academy headquarters or a center in Kenya. They stated that the project is ready to be hosted at the 160-acre Digital Media City at the Konza Technopolis. Financing agreements have been signed with the Republic of Korea for the construction of the anchor building and site infrastructure, which is currently at the design stage.

Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, EGH, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to realizing the Africa Academy in Kenya. He emphasized that the Academy’s establishment requires at least two founding members to pay the fee. If more than two members contribute, the excess funds will be used to stage Grammy events equally in the founding member countries.

Conclusion

This clarification by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports aims to address the misunderstanding and reassure the public about the objectives and benefits of the agreement with Grammy Global Ventures. The focus remains on enhancing Kenya’s creative economy and positioning the country as a cultural and entertainment hub in Africa.