Grammy nominated Nigerians throughout history that you should know (1984 – 2022)

Grammy nominated Nigerians have exposed the Nigerian music industry and its artists more across many international platforms, the music industry remains one of the major platforms that has gained Nigeria international recognition.
These nominations started way back from the time of the music living icon and legend, King Sunny Ade who has been nominated for a Grammy twice and the baton has been successfully passed down to generations. The first award after many nominations was won by Babatunde Olatunji on the basis of his contributions to foreign work in the category Best World Music Album in 2009.

The Grammy award which was originally called the Gramophone award is an award presented by the Recording Academy for achievements in the music industry. Every artist dreams of their work reaching a lot of people and making an impact. And what is more impactful than being nominated and winning the highly coveted Grammy awards. Being nominated for a Grammy not only proves that your music is great, but also that you have gained international recognition.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the Grammy nominated Nigerians and winners from 1984 till 2022.

1. King sunny ade

Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye MFR professionally known as King Sunny Adé is a Nigerian songwriter, jùjú singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known as one of the first African pop musicians to gain international success.

2. babatunde olatunji

Michael Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist. Olatunji was part of Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum projects, including the album Planet Drum, which won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album of 1991, the first year for which the award was given.

3. femi kuti

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti 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 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2013) in the Best World Music Album category. He just got his Collaborated Album with Made Kuti tagged “Legacy +” nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award in the category of “Best Global Music Album”.

4. lekan babalola

Lekan Babalola is a talented Nigerian musician, and jazz percussionist with two Grammy awards under his belt. In 2006 he won his first Grammy award, for his work on Ali Farka Touré’s “Heart of the Moon.” He bagged his second Grammy award in 2009 for his work on Cassandra Wilson‘s 2008 album titled “Loverly”.

5. Sikiru Adepoju

Sikiru Adepoju is a Nigerian recording artist and percussionist from Nigeria. He was part of Mickey Hart’s group Planet Drum. And this leads 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.

6. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer who made her way into being one of the grammy nominated Nigerians whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction. She was described in The Times Literary Supplement as “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors [which] is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature”, particularly in her second home, the United States.

She is one of the grammy nominated Nigerians for her feminist-inspired collaboration with American entertainer Beyonce, on her 2013 track “Flawless.”

7. kah-lo

Faridah Seriki, known professionally as Kah-Lo is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, one of the grammy nominated Nigerians who is best known for her song ‘Fasta’ and for her work on ‘Rinse and Repeat’ with British DJ, Riton. The track was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 59th Grammy Awards.

8. wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter and one of the grammy nominated Nigerians. ‘Manya’ singer, Wizkid, bagged a nomination for Album Of The Year in 2017 when Drake’s ‘Views’ was nominated in the category.

He recently 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. Just recently, he bagged 2 2022 Grammy Nominations with his song Essence ft Tems being Nominated by the Grammy Academy in the category of “Best Global Music Performance”, his 2020 Album “Made in Lagos” was also nominated in the category of “Best Global Music Album”.

9. seun kuti

Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti who is called by the name Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, singer and the youngest son of the famous Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father’s former band Egypt 80. He became one of the grammy nominated Nigerians with his song Black times in the category Best World Music Album.

10. 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 grammy nominated Nigerians to have back-to-back nominations at the Grammys.

11. sade adu

Nigerian born artiste, Sade Adu, is no stranger to nods from The Recording Academy. Sade has been in the running for a Grammy award nine times and even though she has dual citizenship, she is still one of grammy nominated Nigerians. The songstress has managed to go home with the prestigious Grammys gold gramophone four out of those nine times: 1986, 1994, 2002 and 2011 respectively.

Other Nigerian grammy nominees include:

Read also: 10 most followed Nigerians on Instagram

Reference: wikipedia