In 1983, legendary musician, King Sunny Ade, made history as the first Nigerian artist to receive a Grammy Award nomination. Fast forward to 2008, recording artist, Sikiru Adepoju, topped KSA’s record by clinching the coveted award.
Not much happened for a while, but in the last eight years, some of Nigeria’s finest talents have managed over 20 nominations across categories. Here’s a breakdown of wins and nominations since 2017.
2017 Grammy Awards
The 2017 Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 12, 2017, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Two Nigerians were nominated in two different categories.
Best Dance Recording
Kah-lo snagged a nomination for her efforts as a featured artist on Riton’s Rinse & Repeat.
Best Album
Wizkid was nominated as a featured artist on Drake’s album, Views.
Best Musical Theater Album
The British actress and singer, Cynthia Erivo, won the Grammy Award category alongside cast members who worked on the soundtrack album for The Color Purple movie.
2018 Grammy Awards
The 2018 Grammy Awards ceremony was on January 28 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. Two Nigerians were nominated in two categories for their efforts as featured artists.
Best R&B Award
American artist, Tunji Ige, was nominated as a producer on Location, a record by Khalid.
Best Reggae Album
Timaya was nominated for his feature on Morgan Heritage’s Avrekedabra album.
2019 Grammy Awards
The 61st Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Only one Nigerian artist made it to the nomination list.
Best World Music Album
Seun Kuti and his band, Egypt 80, were nominated for their album, Black Times.
2020 Grammy Awards
The 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony was held on January 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Burna Boy was the only Nigerian artist who made the nomination list that year, marking the beginning of his impressive run with the Recording Academy.
Best Global Music Album
Burna Boy was nominated as a standalone act for his album, African Giant. However, he lost the award to Angelique Kidjo.
2021 Grammy Awards
The 63rd Grammy Awards went down on March 14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. There was no live audience due to social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Two Nigerian artists were nominated across two categories.
World Music Album
Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall bagged a nomination, making him the first Nigerian artist to be nominated twice in a row. The nomination also marked his first Grammy win.
Best Music Video
Wizkid was nominated in the category for his efforts on Beyonce’s song, Brown Skin Girl. The nomination marked Wizkid’s first Grammy win by association.
2022 Grammy Awards
The 64th Grammy Awards ceremony was on April 3, 2022, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It was an exciting year for Nigerians as four artists were nominated across categories, with Wizkid and Femi Kuti bagging two nominations each. Neither of them won.
Best Global Music Performance
Wizkid ft. Tems — Essence
Femi Kuti — Pà Pá Pà
Best Global Music Album
Wizkid — Made in Lagos
Femi & Made Kuti — Legacy +
2023 Grammy Awards
The Grammys returned for its 65th edition on February 5 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Two Nigerian artists bagged nominations. Tems won her first Grammy by association for her work on Wait For U.
Best Global Music Performance
Burna Boy — Last Last
Best Global Music Album
Burna Boy — Love, Damini
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Future ft. Drake and Tems — Wait For U
Best Rap Song
Future ft. Drake and Tems — Wait For U
2024 Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards 2024 edition will be held on Sunday, February 4, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. This time around, a newly announced Best African Music category by the Recording Academy gave room for more Nigerian artists to be nominated.
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Burna Boy — Sittin’ On Top Of The World
Best Global Music Album
Davido — Timeless
Burna Boy — I Told Them
Best Global Music Performance
Burna Boy — Alone
Davido — Feel
Best African Music Performance
Burna Boy — City Boys
Davido — Unavailable
Asake, Olamide — Amapiano
Ayra Starr — Rush
Fireboy DML and CKay earned a nomination each in the Album of the Year category for their efforts on Jon Batiste’s World Music Radio and Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure respectively.
Tems’ bagged a nomination in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category for her contribution to Rihanna’s Lift Me Up.
While we anticipate the Grammy Awards 2024 winners’ announcement, you should read this: Do Nigeria’s Biggest Artists Really Need the Grammys?
