Grammy awards are coveted around the world. To many artistes, that is the zenith of their careers. Who doesn’t want to win Grammy? Over the years, the quest to win Grammy has improved the manner in which music artistes present their songs. A lot of artistes have added a lot of craft and creativity to their music creation in an attempt to gain this international recognition.
In Nigeria, there are some artists who have made the country proud by winning this price. Even though. It does not come with monetary reward; the thirst to win it overshadows money. Some of the artistes mentioned here are Nigerians in diaspora while some possess some Nigerian roots. Here are some of the artists who have won Grammy in the country:
Burna Boy
Burna Boy brought home the award with his “Twice As Tall” album under the Global Music category in 2021. He lost the glory to Angelique Kidjo in 2020 and came back stronger to win the award in 2021.
Wizkid
Wizkid won the award the same night Burna came home with the award. He got featured on Beyonce’s Brown Skin Girl video, which won Grammy.
Jenn Nkiru
The music video for “Brown Skin Girl” video was co-directed by British-Nigerian filmmaker Jenn Nkiru, that got Beyonce and Wizkid the award. She had worked with Beyonce in 2018 as second unit director of Ricky Saiz’s video for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, “Apeshit”. She has also directed the video for the launch of Beyonce’s Ivy Park fashion line. She got a Grammy.
Sikiru Adepoju
Many people do not know Sikiru Adepoju. He is a recording artist and a percussionist, who plays in the genres of world music and traditional African music. Adepoju is gifted and, can play many musical instruments. In 1991, he won the award with Mickey Hart’s group Planet Drum. The group’s album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. In 2009, they won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music.
Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (Seal)
Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, who is professionally called Seal is a British-Nigerian musician, singer, and songwriter. He got 14 nominations and won four. He got three from his hit song “Kiss From A Rose” in 1996. The last Grammy came in 2011.
Sade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu, professionally known as Sade Adu, holds the title of the first artiste of Nigerian origin to win a Grammy in 1986 for “Best New Artist.” She got the next in 1994, another in 2002, and the last in 2011 with “Soldier of Love.”
Lekan Babalola
Lekan Babalola is a jazz percussionist and musician, who won a Grammy in 2006, and a second Grammy in 2009 for his work on Cassandra Wilson‘s album titled Loverly.
Hakeem Seriki (Chamillionaire)
Chamillionaire, born Hakeem Seriki is a rapper, entrepreneur, and investor. He won a Grammy in 2007 for his song, “Riddin’ under the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group category.
Kevin Olusola
Kevin Olusola is a musician, beatboxer, cellist, rapper, record producer, singer, and songwriter. He won three Grammy awards.
If you didn’t know some of these artistes, now you know them and can listen to their music whenever you find an opportunity. Nigerian artistes continue to do the continent proud in the music industry with rave music daily. We hope artistes from the West African Country can continue to produce music capable of international recognition for their country and the continent at large.