February 09, (THEWILL) – On Monday, February 6, the media was awash with news of Nigerian artiste, Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems, winning an award at the 65th edition of the Grammys, the prestigious and biggest music awards ceremony that recognises the best recordings, compositions and artists of the eligibility year.
Tems, who has only been in the music industry for about three years, got a Grammy Award for her feature in Nayvadius DeMun Cash, aka Future’s single, ‘Wait For You’ in the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category.
Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, who was equally nominated in two categories, lost out. He was nominated in the ‘Best Global Music Album’ and ‘Best Global Music Performance’ categories.
Despite his loss, he is still considered a winner having been nominated for three consecutive years and winning a Grammy Award for his second nomination, with his album, ‘Twice as Tall’ in the ‘Best World Music Album’ category.
However, the narrative being pushed out about Tems being the first female Nigerian artist to win a Grammy Award is completely false. So also is the tale about Burna Boy being the first Nigerian male artist to bring home the award.
The only first they both enjoy is Burna Boy being the first Nigerian artiste with back-to-back Grammy nominations for three consecutive years and Tems winning her very own first Grammy Award.
Before Tems and Burna Boy, there were other Nigerians, who paved the way for their Nigerian nominations and wins. They walked so that both Tems and Burna Boy could fly.
Helen Folasade Adu, popularly known as Sade Adu, holds the spot as the first Nigerian artiste to win a Grammy award. She is a four-time Grammy winner having won the first award for the ‘Best New Act’ category in 1986 and the ‘Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal’ category with ‘No Ordinary Love’ In 1994. She won the ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ category with ‘Lovers Rock’ in 2002, and the ‘Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals’ category with ‘Soldier of Love’ in 2011.
After Sade comes Henry Olusegun Samuel, aka Seal, the only Nigerian or arguably, African artist with a record 14 Grammy nominations throughout his music career. He carted away three of the awards in 1996, for ‘Record of the Year,’ ‘Sound of the Year’ and in the ‘Best Male Pop Vocal Performance’ category for his hit song, ‘Kiss From A Rose’. He won his fourth Grammy Award in 2011 for ‘Imagine’ in the “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals’ category.
Then there was Lekan Babalola, a jazz percussionist, who won his first Grammy Award in 2006, for his works in Ali Farka Toure’s ‘In the Heart of the Moon’ for Best Traditional World Music Album category. He won his second in 2009, for his works in Cassandra Wilson’s album, ‘Lovely’ for the Best Jazz Album category.
Hakeem Seriki, aka Chamillionire, who has since gone into oblivion, won the coveted Grammy award in 2007, for his song, ‘Riddin’ in the ‘Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group’ category.
Sikiru Adepoju, a percussionist and recording artist focused on traditional African music genres, got a Grammy Award alongside Mickey Hart’s singing group, Planet Drum, whose title album won an Award for ‘Best Contemporary World Music Album’ in 1991. The former drummer for juju maestro, Ebenezer Obey, who plays a variety of instruments and styles was also part of Mickey Hart’s group, Global Drum Project, whose title album won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Contemporary World Music Album’ in 2009.
Kevin Olusola, a renowned cellist, beatboxer, songwriter, record producer, singer, and rapper, best known as the beatboxer of the vocal band, Pentatonix, together with his band, won in the ‘Best Arrangement, Instrument or Acapella’ category in 2015, for their song, ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’. In 2016, they won in the ‘Best Country Duo/ Group Performance’ category for the single, ‘Jolene’ and in 2017, they won in the ‘Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album’ for ‘Evergreen’.
Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo, a singer, songwriter, and actress known for her performance as Celie in the Broadway revival of ‘The Color Purple’ and her global hit, ‘Stand Up,’ the lead single from the soundtrack to the biographical award-winning film, ‘Harriet,’ is a Grammy winner. She got the award for ‘Best Musical Theater Album’ in 2017.
Jenn Nkiru, a Nigerian-British artist and director, won a Grammy Award in 2021. She directed the music video for Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ for ‘Best Music Video’ in 2021.
In fact, the night of January 14, 2021, was a great one for Nigerian entertainers. Besides Jean Nkiru, afrobeat singer, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, also won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for the single, ‘Brown Skin Girl’ alongside Beyoncé, the owner of the song and her daughter, Blue Ivy. Same night too, Burna Boy won his first Grammy Award with his ‘Twice as Tall’ album in the ‘Best World Music Album’ category.
And then in 2023, Tems won the Grammy for her feature in Future’s single, ‘Wait For You’ in the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category.
Winners only by nomination
Mere nominations are considered to be a win for artistes as it connotes that their body of work is being recognised globally. A few other Nigerians, who have been nominated by the Recording Academy, aka Grammys, include afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti. He has been nominated five times and holds the spot as the most nominated Nigerian, if not African artiste alive, who has never won the coveted award. He was nominated in 2003, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2022.
Juju singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Sunday Adegeye, aka King Sunny Ade, has been nominated twice, in 1984 and 1991.
The late Babatunde Olatunji, a drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998.
Faridah Seriki, aka Kah-Lo, earned a Grammy nomination in 2017.
In 2019, Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, the youngest son of famous afrobeat pioneer, Fela Rasome Kuti, got nominated for the Grammys.
Renowned writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was also nominated for a Grammy award for her feminist-inspired collaboration with Beyonce Knowles on her 2013 track, ‘Flawless’. Following her TEDx talk on why ‘We Should All Be Feminists,’ Beyonce incorporated the writer’s essay into her single.
In 2022, Made, Femi Kuti’s first son, was nominated for his first Grammy Award.
