The Grammy Awards, which began in 1954, are largely regarded as the pinnacle of musical achievements. These awards continue to highlight and celebrate exceptional musical talent on a global stage.
Every Nigerian musician is interested in the Grammys. It is not entirely wrong to argue that many singers in Nigeria nowadays sing to win Grammy Awards rather than to entertain people, particularly their followers. Nigerian music has not only developed locally, but it is also gaining global recognition, grabbing the attention of the Grammys.
Tems, a Nigerian performer, got the prestigious honor at the Grammy Awards, which took place on Sunday, February 2, 2025. She joined the ranks of renowned vocalists who have earned the prestigious Grammy Award.
Temilade Openiyi, alias Tems, won the African Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with her song Love Me Jeje.
Here’s a brief look at seven (7) Nigerian performers who have won Grammys:
Helen Folasade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu, better known as Sade Adu, is a Nigerian artist. She was born on January 16, 1959, in Ibadan, Nigeria. She was raised in England from the age of four.
A check by WITHIN NIGERIA found that she had received eight Grammy nominations. She is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy. She won Best New Artist in 1986, Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals in 1994 for her song ‘No Ordinary Love’, and Best Pop Vocal Album in 2002 for her album ‘Lovers Rock’ (beating Janet Jackson and NSYNC). In 2011, she won Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals for the song ‘Soldier of Love’.
Henry Olusegun Olumide SEAL
Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel popularly known as SEAL is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was born on February 19, 1963, in Paddington, London, to Adebisi Ogundeji, a Nigerian mother, and Francis Samuel, an Afro-Brazilian father. He has won four Grammys in total.
He signed with Trevor Horn’s ZTT Records to release his self-titled debut studio album in 1991. He had critical and financial success, with the singles “Crazy” and “Killer” peaking at number two and one on the UK singles chart, respectively, and both entering the US Billboard Hot 100. His 1994 single, “Kiss from a Rose,” climbed at the top of the latter list after its inclusion on the film soundtracks for The Neverending Story III and Batman Forever.
Siriku Adepoju
Sikiru Adepoju is a Nigerian drummer and recording artist who works largely in traditional African and world music genres. He was born on November 10, 1950. He performs a wide range of instruments and styles.
Many of you may not recognize the name Siriku Adepoju, but he is a Nigerian drummer and recording artist who specializes in traditional African and global music. He won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music CD in 2009 for his work on the ‘Global Drum Project’ CD. Siriku Adepoju has only received a single Grammy nomination.
Kevin Oluwole Olusola
Kevin Oluwole Olusola, also known as K.O, is an American singer, composer, beatboxer, and cellist. He was born on October 5, 1988, to Nigerian father Oluwole Olusola and Grenada-born mother Curline Pauland. He is well known as the beatboxer for the a cappella group Pentatonix.
After winning NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011, the trio released eleven albums, which sold over 2 million copies and received more than two billion views on their YouTube channel.
In 2015, he and his trio Pentatonix won the Best Arrangement, Instrumental, or Acapella Oscar for their acapella song “Daft Punk.”
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu BURNABOY
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, also known as BURNABOY, was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt. He is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, performer, and record producer. He rose to prominence in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party,” the lead single off his debut studio album L.I.F.E. (2013).
In 2017, Burna Boy got a record deal with Atlantic Records and its parent company, Warner Music Group. His third studio album, Outside, which also marks his major label debut, was released in 2018. He is sometimes referred to as the King of Afrofusion.
He is one of Nigeria’s musical prodigies, making ripples throughout Africa and around the world. In 2021, he received a Grammy for Best Global Music Album for his critically acclaimed album ‘Twice As Tall’. He has ten Grammy nominations.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, also known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter. He was born on July 16, 1990 in Surulere, Lagos.
He is a well-known figure in the contemporary Afrobeats music industry, and he is often regarded as one of the most financially successful and influential African recording artists of the twenty-first century.
He won a Grammy in 2021 for Best Music Video for his collaboration with Beyoncé on the song ‘Brown Skin Girl’. Wizkid has four Grammy nominations.
Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems
Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and record producer. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on June 11, 1995, and relocated to the United Kingdom with her family when she was five years old.
She gained to notoriety after appearing on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence,” which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of a remix version featuring Justin Bieber. The song landed her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she appeared on Canadian rapper Drake’s song “Fountains”.
She received her first Grammy in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her efforts on “Wait For U” with Future and Drake.
Tems, a Nigerian singer, won Best African Music Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025.
Tems has eight Grammy nominations.
