- The Grammys, a music juggernaut, sparked controversy online with a list showcasing African artists who have clinched their prestigious awards.
- WizKid and Tems, despite snagging awards for their stellar collabs with international superstars, weren’t featured on lineup, triggering a tidal wave of online uproar.
Social media was a beehive of bewilderment when Afrobeats Superstars, Wizkid and Tems, didn’t make the cut in the list of African Singers who’ve taken home Grammy Awards.
Leading up to the 66th Grammy Awards on February 4, the organizers recently unveiled a rundown of African musicians who’ve scored golden gramophones since the 1960s.
According to the rundown, Miriam Makeba, the late South African songstress, stood as the first African winner of a Grammy award.
Sade, the pop sensation, followed suit, securing her place as the first Nigerian to clinch the global accolade, while Burna Boy emerged as the most recent and final Nigerian to snag the prestigious gong.
SEE LIST BELOW
The list, however, has sparked an ongoing storm of controversy on social media platforms due to the glaring omission of Wizkid and Tems, two Nigerian music powerhouses.
Many seized this opportunity to taunt the talented singers
SEE REACTIONS BELOW
No Wizkid,,,,, No Tems,,,, Lmao 😂
In the just listed African Grammy winnersWhen we say those two are built on other people's success known as Gumbody,, Dem go think say we dey hate,,lol 😂
Grammy just clarified us now
Wizkid FC know your place from Now on till Sunday 👍👍— Big Sam💦 (@Sammyschisom) January 29, 2024
https://twitter.com/mullerricchmind/status/1752056091087712646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1752056091087712646%7Ctwgr%5E1b8f622a5cd5b129872bf08045ae80a9b65a15d2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flifestyle.thecable.ng%2Fconfusion-as-grammys-exclude-wizkid-tems-from-african-award-winners-list%2F
Grammy released a list of African artists who have won the Grammy Award and Wizkid is no where to be found on their list, so na Iron that boy dey flaunt since?😂😂
— David Of Fct🌝 (@Dhavidote) January 29, 2024
On March 14, 2021, Wizkid won his first-ever Grammy award for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, a 2019 song by Beyonce, the American musician. The project won the ‘Best Music Video’ category.
The ‘Ojuelegba’ hitmaker feat came at about the same time when Burna Boy won his first Grammy award; clinching the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category for ‘Twice As Tall‘, his 2020 project.
Last year, Tems bagged her first-ever Grammy award. The Afrobeats singer won the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category for her role in ‘Wait for U’, the 2022 hit song by Future featuring Drake.
The development raises questions regarding the parameters used by the Grammys to make the list.