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Celebrated for being the first African artist to ever get a distribution deal with Bob Marley's Tuff Gong International, Don Dada continues to shake things up both locally and on the global stage.
The reggae star is also an official Voting Member of the Recording Academy, which is responsible for the Grammy Awards. He has submitted music across four Grammy categories this year, including the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change and the Best Artwork award, which is a newly introduced category being unveiled this year.
Harry Belafonte significance and back-to-back SAMA nominations
The Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change is not a voting category but a CEO's Merit Award whose recipients are hand-selected by a dedicated committee of peers appointed by the Academy’s National Trustees. The award honours the legacy of the late musician and human rights activist Harry Belafonte, who marched alongside Dr Martin Luther King Jr and used his musical gift to break racial barriers.
Don Dada describes it as an award that sees the value of music beyond entertainment by recognising this art form as a vehicle for truth, justice, unity, peace and transformation.
The Belafonte legacy resonates very deeply with Don Dada, who has submitted his track Peace in this category, which he says was inspired by the enduring message of Bob Marley's timeless hit War.
“The song reflects my conviction that music must speak to the realities of our time. We cannot remain silent in the face of conflict, division, inequality and suffering. Artists have a responsibility to use their voices to encourage humanity to confront these challenges and imagine a better world,” says Don Dada.
Without taking anything away from the importance of musical excellence, production and performance, the central question for Don Dada is whether the work contributes meaningfully to the conversation around social change. Because it’s listening to these conversations that will propel people from thinking to taking action.
The musician has been nominated in the Best Reggae category for two consecutive years at the South African Music Awwards (SAMAs) for his albums The Heart & The Mind and Forward We Continue respectively.
As an African artist, Don Dada says his heritage isn’t a mere accessory to his music but is central to his very identity. He sees reggae as a language through which the African experience, with its ongoing pursuit of freedom, dignity as well as economic and social progress, can be expressed. The hip-hop infusion in his music only amplifies his storytelling.
“Receiving two consecutive SAMA nominations reaffirms that these expressions have a place within our own musical landscape. It affirms that reggae, despite sometimes operating outside the commercial mainstream, continues to contribute meaningfully to South Africa's cultural identity and musical heritage.”
“International recognition is important, but there is something profoundly special about being acknowledged at home, by an industry and a nation whose history, struggles, cultures and musical traditions have helped shape who I am.”
Listen before you go. The Struggle & The Crown on Spotify.
Digitisation and a new era for the Grammy Awards
While the world has moved away from the CD era, this artist remains intentional about releasing double albums.
Don Dada doesn’t believe that music should be limited by the demands of a fast-moving digital culture. Given the recognition he has received both at home and on the global stage, it’s evident his formula is working.
“Music in the digital age is often consumed in seconds, singles compete for attention and algorithms influence listener consumption. However, I have always believed that an album should be an experience, a body of work that tells a story and gives the listener something meaningful to discover,” he asserts.
However, he is conscious of the challenges of releasing double albums in a digital era. It’s a big ask, he says, because you’re requesting your audience to invest time, attention and emotional energy in a larger body of work when the industry often encourages instant gratification.
He was deliberate about exploring both hip-hop and reggae in his 2024 release The Heart & The Mind and his new album The Struggle & The Crown, which dropped two months ago.
He is firm that these aren’t simply two collections of songs placed together, as they represent different yet connected expressions of his identity, experiences, consciousness and understanding of the world.
The Grammys are unveiling the new Best Artwork category this year and Don Dada has submitted here as well, as he believes that the visual identity of an album is an essential part of the artistic experience.
“Before a listener hears the first note, they encounter the artwork, the title and the imagery that introduce them to the world the artist has created. I believe album artwork deserves the same intention, creativity and respect as the music itself,” he explains.
Ras Silas did the artwork for The Heart & The Mind, and it’s only fitting that he also be recognised as that album was Don Dada’s first SAMA nomination.
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