By Quite a number of people — especially from the younger generation — think ace musicians, Burna Boy and Wizkid are the only artists that have won the Grammy award in Nigeria.
Interestingly, the duo aren’t the only Nigerian superstars who have bagged the prestigious award. Talented Nigerian singers across the globe have been winning Grammy awards from far back 1980s. Women, men, singers, songwriters, and even drummers are among the Nigerians who clinched the feat.
However, the prowess of these artists aren’t sung from time to time, it is worthy to note that they are all exceptionally impactful hence they have a Grammy to their names.
Since juju legend, King Sunny Ade, opened the door to Grammy nominations for Nigerian singers after becoming the first-ever Nigerian to be nominated for the award with his 1984 album ‘Synchro System’, Nigerians have continued to shine at the world’s biggest music award.
Although KSA has never won a Grammy, here are Nigerians who have won or nominated in one category or another.
Sade Adu
Ibadan-born and London-raised Folashade Adu, referred to as Sade Adu, became the first Nigerian to win a Grammy.
She won the award in the Best New Artist category in 1986 and has since won three more in 1994, 2002 and 2011.
Seal
Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, ‘Seal’ is a British-Nigerian born to a Nigerian mother, Adebisi Ogundeji, and an Afro-Brazilian father.
He scored a hat trick win at the Grammy in 1995 with his hit single ‘Kiss from a Rose’. He won his fourth Grammy in 2010.
Chamillionaire
Hakeem Temidayo Seriki ‘Chamillionaire’, a Nigerian-American rapper, won his first and only Grammy in 2007 in Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his smash hit single single single hit ‘Ridin’.
Sikiru Adepoju
Sikiru Adepoju is a Nigerian recording artist and percussionist from Nigeria. He was part of Mickey Hart’s group Planet Drum. And that led to him winning two Grammy awards one in 1991 and the second in 2008. He is known for his variety in musical styles and playing instruments.
Seun Kuti
Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti known professionally as Seun Kuti is a Nigerian musician, and the youngest son of the Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
Seun Kuti was nominated for a Grammy award in 2018 under the World Music Category. He is the leader of his father’s former band “Egypt 80”. He is also the second son of the music legend “Fela Kuti” to be nominated for this award.
Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji was an amazing Nigerian drummer who was part of “Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum projects” including the album Planet Drum. He won a Grammy in 1991 under the Best World Music Album category.
Cynthia Erivo
British-Nigerian actress, Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo also known as Cynthia Erivo sang her way to snatch the Grammy award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017 for ‘Colour Purple’.
Femi Kuti
Olufela Olufemi AnikulapoKuti popularly known as Femi Kuti is a talented musician and instrumentalist. He is the eldest son of the Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and the grandson of the women activist icon, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
Prior to 2022, Femi Kuti has been nominated four times for a Grammy award (in 2002, 2009, 2011, and 2013) in the Best World Music Album category. He also got his collaborated Album with his son, Made Kuti tagged “Legacy +” nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award in the “Best Global Music Album” category.
Made Kuti
Afrobeat singer, Made Kuti, son of Femi Kuti, bagged his first-ever Grammy nomination at the 2022 edition of the award.
Made was nominated for Best Global Global Music Album for his debut album “Legacy+”, a collaboration with his father, Femi Kuti.
Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known by his stage name, Burna Boy is undoubtedly one of the most successful artists to come out of Africa.
He cemented his claim as the “African Giant” after winning the award for Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He became the first Nigerian Music artiste to have back-to-back nominations at the Grammys.
Wizkid
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, professionally known as Wizkid is one of the biggest and most influential artists to come out of Africa. So it is no wonder that his name is on this list. He added a Grammy to his shelf of numerous awards after his 2019 collaboration with the American singer Beyonce on the hit song “Brown Skin Girl” won the Best Music Video at the Grammy Awards.
He also bagged 2 nominations at the 2022 Grammys with his Tems-assisted song, Essence in the “Best Global Music Performance” category. His much-hyped album, Made in Lagos was also nominated in the “Best Global Music Album” category. The singer, however, lost out in both categories.
