Taking to Instagram to share his shock, Yemi posted: I am speechless! What can God not do?? All my recent releases in the past year got accepted by @recordingacademy for consideration and then they added me to Best New Artist category! All I can say is thank you Lord.?

Yemi has earned considerations in four Grammy categories namely; BestGospel Performance/Song CHAINS FALL Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song BEHOLD THE LAMB Best Dance/Electronic Recording HOPE ALIVE and Best New Artist YEMI ALAFIFUNI'.

When asked by Premier Gospel for his thoughts on the honours he said: I have always thought that the Grammy's were for the high and mighty. No song I write in my kitchen table could come close to these surely! But when my then manager asked me to consider submitting my work to the Grammy's, my initial thought was; theres no way theyd consider me, right?

The UK Christian Chart topper is no stranger to the music industry. Though well known for his worship music, Yemi experimented with a new dance sound on his 2021 summer anthem Hope Alive. Inspired by real life dire circumstances experienced by a friend, Hope Alive, will leave you dancing your woes away and hopefully, get Grammy voters voting.

In the Best Gospel Performance/Song category Yemi is up against the likes of Dawkins and Dawkins, Red Hands Band and 21:03. Looking through other accepted submissions from other artists, I find myself being compared to David in the David/Goliath story. But still I believe, said Yemi.

Yemis story will undoubtedly inspire his fellow UK Gospel artists to get their music recognised by prestigious music award bodies, so hopefully this honour is the first of many for our gospel artists.

Written by Akosua DF, Premier Gospel Presenter

Tuesday, 26 October 2021