The 67th Annual Grammy Awards are set to take place this Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and Nigerian music is taking center stage. Six Nigerian artists—Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Tems, Yemi Alade, and Asake—have received nominations and are in the running for prestigious awards.
These artists have been recognized in key categories such as Best African Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best R&B Song. Tems leads with three nominations, while Burna Boy has made history as the first African artist to secure Grammy nominations for six consecutive years.
Burna Boy, often referred to as the “African Giant,” is nominated in the Best African Music Performance category for his hit song Higher from the album I Told Them. This marks his second consecutive nomination in this category. To win, he will have to compete against Yemi Alade (Tomorrow), Asake (MMS featuring Wizkid), and Davido, who is featured alongside Chris Brown and Lojay.
Tems, another strong contender, has been nominated for Best African Music Performance (Love Me Jeje), Best Global Music Album (Born in the Wild), and Best R&B Song (Burning). With her previous Grammy win for Wait for U with Future and Drake, many believe she has a strong chance of adding more trophies to her collection.
For the first time, Yemi Alade, Rema, and Asake are also competing at the Grammys. Yemi Alade’s nomination makes her the first Nigerian female artist to reach this milestone in the Best African Music Performance category. Rema’s Best Global Music Album nod for HEIS is seen as long overdue, and a win could cement his status as an international superstar. Meanwhile, Asake’s nomination for MMS featuring Wizkid has further boosted his presence on the global stage.
Beyond the Nigerian nominees, legendary Beninese-French singer Angélique Kidjo is also in the spotlight, nominated for Best Global Music Performance for Sunlight To My Soul with the Soweto Choir. She will be competing against Ghana’s reggae and Afro-Roots artist Rocky Dawuni for the award.
Meanwhile, Trevor Noah is set to return as the Grammy host for the fifth year in a row. He is also nominated for Best Comedy Album and will be taking on additional duties as a producer for the event.
As always, the Grammys will feature a dazzling lineup of performances. Confirmed artists include Shakira, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, RAYE, and Teddy Swims. Several music legends such as Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Cynthia Erivo, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Janelle Monáe, and Herbie Hancock will also take the stage.
Before the main event, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be broadcast live on YouTube and Grammy.com. Performers at this ceremony include Yolanda Adams, Angelique Kidjo, Taj Mahal, Muni Long, Wayne Brady, and Scott Hoying.
Beyoncé is expected to dominate the night, having received 11 nominations, including Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter. This makes her the most-nominated female artist in a single year. Other major nominees include Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone, each securing seven nominations, while Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan follow closely with six each.
This year’s Grammy ceremony is not just about music but also about making an impact. The Recording Academy has pledged over $3.2 million in emergency aid for music professionals affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles. This effort aims to support relief work and honor first responders.
