Grammy Nominees Include Bombino, Fatoumata Diawara, Soweto Gospel Choir

<p>The nominees for the 2019 Grammys were announced this week, and even though Sting got nominated for his reggae album with Shaggy, there’s a lot to like on the lists. Elio Villafranca’s ambitious <em>Cinque</em> record got a nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album; the world’s cutest Colombian band, Monsieur Perine, is nominated for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album, and Bombino, Fatoumata Diawara, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 and the Soweto Gospel Choir&mdash;along with the group Yiddish Glory&mdash;were nominated for World Music Album of the Year. <em>Black Panther</em> is even on there with the Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media.</p> <p>Here’s a list of the nominees in the most Afropop-relevant categories: </p> <p><strong>Best World Music Album</strong> </p> <p>Bombino,<em> Deran</em> </p> <p>&nbsp;Fatoumata Diawara,<em> Fenfo</em> </p> <p>Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, <em>Black Times</em> </p> <p>Soweto Gospel Choir<em>, Freedom</em> </p> <p>Yiddish Glory<em>, The Lost Songs of World War II</em> </p> <p><strong>Best Latin Pop Album</strong> </p> <p>Pablo Alboran, <em>Prometo</em> </p> <p>Claudia Brant, <em>Sincera</em> </p> <p>Natalia Lafourcade,<em> Musas (Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos se Los Macorinos), Vol. 2</em> </p> <p>Raquel Sofía<em>, 2:00 AM</em> </p> <p><strong>Best Latin Jazz Album</strong> </p> <p>Eddie Daniels,<em> Heart of Brazil</em> </p> <p>Dafnis Prieto Big Band, <em>Back to the Sunset</em> </p> <p>Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band,<em> West Side Story Reimagined</em> </p> <p>Elio Villafranca, <em>Cinque</em><br></p> <p> Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet<em>, Yo Soy la Tradición</em></p> <p><strong>Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album</strong></p> <p>Aterciopelados,<em> Claroscura</em> </p> <p>COASTCITY,<em> Coastcity</em> </p> <p>Monsieur Periné, <em>Encanto Tropical</em> </p> <p>Orishas,<em> Gourmet</em> </p> <p>Zoé,<em> Aztlán</em> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p> <p><strong>Best Tropical Latin Album</strong> </p> <p>Charlie Aponte,<em> Pa' Mi Gente</em> </p> <p>&nbsp;Formell Y Los Van Van,<em> Legado</em> </p> <p>Orquesta Akokán,<em> Orquesta Akokán</em> </p> <p>Felipe Peláez<em>, Ponle Actitud</em> </p> <p>Spanish Harlem Orchestra,<em> Anniversary</em> </p> <p><strong>Best Regional Roots Music Album</strong></p> <p>Sean Ardoin<em>, Kreole Rock and Soul</em> </p> <p>Cha Wa,<em> Spyboy</em> </p> <p>Na Hoa,<em> Aloha From Na Hoa</em> </p> <p>Kalani Pe'a,<em> No 'Ane'i</em> </p> <p>Young Spirit,<em> Mewasinsational: Cree Round Dance Songs</em> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p> <p><strong>&nbsp;Best Reggae Album</strong> </p> <p>&nbsp;Black Uhuru<em>, As The World Turns</em> </p> <p>Etana<em>, Reggae Forever</em> </p> <p>&nbsp;Ziggy Marley,<em> Rebellion Rises</em> </p> <p>Protoje, <em>A Matter of Time</em> </p> <p>Sting & Shaggy<em>, 44/876</em> </p> <p>&nbsp;Carlos Vives,<em> Vives</em>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8489045/2019-grammy-nominees-full-list" target="_blank">You can see the whole list on <em>Billboard</em>’s site</a>. It contains some real surprises (Seal released a standards album? Kanye with one nomination? Backstreet’s back, all right?).&nbsp; </p>