The 2025 Grammys is happening on Sunday, and all eyes are on Nigerian artists making global moves. The contenders for the Best African Music Performance this year are Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Asake & Wizkid, Tems, and Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay.
In celebration of Nigerian music’s growing global recognition, we’re highlighting the best Nigerian albums that have earned a Grammy nomination. From the older musicians to the new generation of Nigerian artists making waves worldwide, this article presents the top 10 Nigerian albums that have been recognized by the Recording Academy.
These albums not only put Nigeria on the Grammy map but also showcase the country’s rich musical heritage and increasingly prominent place in the global music industry.
See below our top 10 Nigerian albums that have been nominated for a Grammy ranked:
10. Born in the Wild — Tems
By the time Tems dropped her debut album, Born In the Wild, in 2024, she was already a global star. The album, a deeply personal R&B project infused with Afrobeats influences, showcases her range—from the soulful “Burning” (which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song) to the nostalgic “Love Me Jeje” (nominated for Best African Music Performance). While Born in the Wild feels like a project Tems made for herself, it still resonates with millions worldwide. It peaked at number three on Nigeria’s TurnTable Albums chart, number five on the Top R&B Albums chart, on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-charting album by a Nigerian female artist.
Tems has remained a dominant presence in the global music scene, especially in the U.S. She’s consistently been part of Grammy-nominated records, from her feature and sample on Future and Drake’s “WAIT 4 U” to contributions on Beyoncé’s “MOVE” and Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.” With her Grammy nod for Born in the Wild, she further cements her ability to blend genres effortlessly while evolving in the global market. Well-deserved.
9. Odù — King Sunny Ade
King Sunny Adé’s 1999 album Odù breathes new life into ancient Yoruba songs, refining traditional melodies into a fresh, captivating experience. The album’s title itself is a nod to Odù Ifá, the sacred Yorùbá divination system, reflecting KSA’s deep reverence for African culture and heritage.
When it comes to music made for pure enjoyment—fondly called Ariya music by Juju lovers—King Sunny Adé is in a league of his own. Odù boasts pristine production that elevates its traditional roots while seamlessly fitting into the musical landscape of its time. But its impact wasn’t just limited to dance floors. The album earned King Sunny Adé his second Grammy nomination in the Best World Music Album category, further solidifying his legacy as a pioneer of Nigerian music on the global stage.
8. Timeless — Davido
As one of the leaders of African music and the Afrobeats movement, Davido has always had a knack for making global hits. But with Timeless—his fourth studio album and first Grammy-nominated project—he took things to another level. Released in March 2024 after a long break from social media, the album marked a triumphant return for the ever-outside Davido. It came with an unmissable rollout, blending introspection with his signature hit-making formula, familiar yet refreshing production, and lyrics that resonated deeply with fans.
On Timeless, Davido delivers some of his most confident and refined work yet, balancing reinvention with the infectious energy his audience loves. The impact was immediate—Timeless became the most streamed African album in a single day on Apple Music and had the biggest album debut week of 2024, racking up over 50 million on-demand streams in its first week. And he didn’t stop there. Throughout the year, Davido kept the momentum going with international radio tours, a North American tour, viral visuals, and major brand collaborations, making sure Timeless remained in the conversation.
In 2024, Timeless earned a nomination for Best Global Music Album at the Grammys, while his smash hit “UNAVAILABLE” received a nod for Best Global Music Performance and “Feel” for Best Global Music Performance. A well-deserved recognition for an artist who has spent over a decade shaping the sound of modern Afrobeats.
7. Made In Lagos — Wizkid
Wizkid’s fourth studio album, Made In Lagos, is almost as famous for its multiple postponements as it is for its undeniable greatness. When it finally dropped in October 2020, the reception was nothing short of legendary. Critics praised it, fans treated it like a national treasure, and Wizkid himself fully embraced a new era—one defined by effortless cool, silky vocals, and a laid-back, singlet-wearing, sometimes-shirtless energy.
A love letter to his city, Made In Lagos indulges in all the things that make Lagos iconic—hedonism, hustle, women, and weather. Sonically, it’s Wizkid at his smoothest: a slow-burning, sensual, and irresistibly relaxing album packed with confidence and style. The guest list alone is proof of its global ambition, featuring Burna Boy, Tems, Damian Marley, H.E.R., Skepta, and Justin Bieber.
Anchored by hits like “Smile” and the 4× RIAA platinum-certified “Essence,” Made In Lagos became a record-breaking force. It spent over 130 weeks on the Billboard World Albums chart, making it the longest-charting African album in history. It also became the first African album to be certified Gold in the U.S.
It’s also the first African album that’s certified Gold in the US. Simply put, Made In Lagos isn’t just a great album—it’s a cultural reset.
6. HEIS — Rema
Most critics and listeners would agree that the release of HEIS has brought or perhaps started a sonic reset in Afrobeats. With its hyper-fast production, Afrobeats-EDM-Mara-House fusion, and a Gothic aesthetic drenched in local Edo references and innuendos, Rema crafted something uniquely chaotic yet masterfully executed. Since its 2024 release, it’s been impossible to attend a lit rave without hearing at least one track from the album.
From the stompyard anthems “OZEBA,” “HEHEHE,” and “MARCH AM” to the stadium-sized energy of its sound, HEIS has turned Rema into a movement. He’s packed out arenas in Abuja and Lagos, leading a new wave of Afrobeats that feels both futuristic and deeply rooted in his heritage.
At the 67th Grammy Awards, HEIS earned a nomination for Best Global Music Album, marking Rema’s first career Grammy nod—just five years into his mainstream journey. The boy dey march am, indeed.
5. Love Drum Talk — Babatunde Olatunji
It’s not every day you hear a 70-year-old sing with the effortless vibrance of Babatunde Olatunji. While Love Drum Talk is backed by vocalists, guitarists, and percussionists, Olatunji remains the undeniable star of the show. His sharp voice and witty Yorùbá storytelling weave through themes of love, commitment, family, and heritage—like on “Spell Mónisola,” where he sings about his granddaughter returning to Nigeria to study in her grandmother’s school in Ibadan.
Released as his thirteenth album, Love Drum Talk became his first solo project to earn a Grammy nomination, a remarkable feat for an artist who had spent decades championing African rhythms on the global stage. The album is a sonic time capsule—a love letter wrapped in the deep resonance of West African drums, blended with Afrobeat, Highlife, and Jazz. More than just music, it feels like a gift to himself on his 70th birthday, a culmination of a lifelong dedication to African percussion.
Olatunji’s journey started in Ajido, Badagry, Lagos, where he honed his drumming skills before moving to the U.S. in 1950. Over the decades, he became a pioneer of African drumming, influencing generations of musicians and reshaping how African music was perceived globally. Love Drum Talk was his final commercial album, but his legacy—both as a musician and cultural ambassador—lives on.
4. Legacy + — Femi Kuti & Made Kuti
There’s something deeply powerful about two generations—father and son—coming together to create music that transcends time. Legacy + isn’t just an album; it’s a rite of passage, a bridge between past, present, and future, woven together by the unmistakable rhythms of Afrobeat.
Clocking in at just under an hour and a half, the album is more than a collaboration between Femi and Made Kuti—it’s a living testament to a bloodline of musical revolutionaries. It carries the legacy of Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti, Made’s great-great-grandfather and Nigeria’s first recorded musician. It upholds the spirit of Fela Kuti, the pioneer of Afrobeat and a global icon. It cements Femi Kuti’s decades-long contribution to the genre. And it marks Made Kuti’s own emergence as the next torchbearer.
With Legacy +, the Kuti family doesn’t just honour its past—it extends its influence into the future. A Grammy-nominated masterpiece, this album is more than music; it’s history in motion.
3. Synchro System — King Sunny Ade
Not taking a breather after the release of his successful 1982 Juju Music (his first out of three albums for Island Records), King Sunny Ade wasted no time in crafting Synchro System, released in 1983 as the second of his three albums under Island Records. It’s the type of feel-good music that makes lovers of life forget their worries and dance without a care—while Adé himself, with a white handkerchief in hand, serenades with his soulful melodies.
Performing tracks from Synchro System at the 1983 Montreux Jazz Festival, King Sunny Adé captivated the audience, cementing his status as the reigning champion of African music in that era. The album’s success soon led to a Grammy nomination for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording, marking a pivotal moment as he broke into the global mainstream with his authentic African sound.
While Juju Music leaned heavily on steel guitar and traditional instrumentation, Synchro System introduced riff guitars and embraced more Western production influences. Yet, its core remained unapologetically African—a celebration of life, rhythm, and culture. This is African party music at its finest, a timeless groove that continues to resonate decades later.
2. Black Times — Seun Kuti
From the bold opening of “Last Revolutionary” to the closing notes of “Theory of Yam and Goat,” Black Times is a sonic rebellion—a fiery blend of drums, brass, sax, and snares, all blasting out in the funkiest groove. Backed by the legendary Egypt 80 band (inherited from his father, Fela Kuti), Seun Kuti delivers an album that’s as irresistibly danceable as it is politically charged.
Black Times is more than music—it’s a call to action. It invokes the spirit of Black consciousness, drawing inspiration from revolutionaries like Marcus Garvey, Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, and Shaka Zulu. Every track speaks the language of the people—unfiltered, urgent, and defiant. This is the sound of black liberation, a rallying cry wrapped in hypnotic rhythms, demanding both introspection and movement.
From start to finish, Black Times is riveting, offering not just a message but an experience—one where freedom, resistance, and joy collide.
1. African Giant — Burna Boy
When Burna Boy declared, “I am an AFRICAN GIANT and will not be reduced to whatever that tiny writing means” on Instagram in 2018, he wasn’t just fighting for a bigger font on the Coachella billing—he was staking his claim on the global stage. That declaration was his way of saying, “Stop sidestepping Africa and me!” The world was forced to listen, and Burna Boy backed it up with African Giant, an album that made sure to document the rise of his hype.
African Giant weaves through a range of musical styles, bringing together African pop with global influences to showcase contemporary African music through the lens of modern times. Burna Boy delivers a mix of self-praise, optimistic anthems, love musings, and gritty hustler tracks. He fires up listeners with high-energy gyrations, while also offering street-smart wisdom and a sharp critique of societal ills. The predator mentality—a mark of Burna Boy’s resilience—permeates every track, driving him forward like a force of nature.
He doesn’t stop there. Burna Boy dons his pan-Africanist mantle, unapologetically throwing middle fingers at governments and colonial powers, making bold political statements on songs like “Anybody” and “Collateral Damage.” While some may argue his political stance is more spectacle than true activism, there’s no denying his musical genius. African Giant is an album that not only celebrates African pride, but also introduces the world to a revolutionary sound.
Though it didn’t win the 2019 Grammy, African Giant marked Burna Boy’s undeniable arrival on the global scene—and by extension, Afrobeats’ triumphant transcendence across the globe.
