Grammy, is an award presented by the Recording Academy to recognize “Outstanding Achievement in the music industry” of the United States. The trophy depicts a gilded gramophone.
The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, to honor the musical accomplishments of performers for the year 1958.
After the 2011 ceremony, The Recording Academy overhauled many Grammy Award categories for 2012.
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022.
Although the likes of Wizkid, Burnaboy, Femi Kuti, Made Kuti, and Tems were nominated in different categories, no Nigerian won a Grammy award last night.
Below is a list of Nigerian stars who have won a Grammy award.
Sade Adu
The first on our list to win a Grammy award is Nigerian-born British singer and songwriter, Helen Folasade Adu, popularly known as Sade Adu.
Sade is one of the most successful British female artists in history and is often recognised as an influence on contemporary music.
She is the first artist of Nigerian origin to win the Grammy award. Her first Grammy win was in 1986 for “Best New Artist” then another followed in 1994 with “No Ordinary Love” for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.
She won her third Grammy in 2002 with “Lovers Rock” in the Best Pop Vocal Album and bagged her Fourth in 2011 with “Soldier of Love for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Seal
Nigerian-British singer and songwriter, Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, popularly known as Seal, is another Nigerian star who has won a Grammy award.
He has sold over 20 million records worldwide with hit songs ‘Crazy’ and ‘killer’. He was also known for his 1994 hit song, ‘Kiss from a Rose’.
Seal has 14 Grammy nominations to his name and has won four. His song, “Kiss From A Rose”, earned him three Grammy awards in 1996 and in 2011, he nabbed his fourth, “Imagine”.
Burnaboy
Nigerian singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, also known as Burnaboy, is another star that has won the Grammy award.
He came to the limelight in 2012 after releasing ‘Like to Party’, the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E.
In the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, his ‘Twice as Tall’ album won the Best World Music Album.
Chamillionaire
Nigerian-American rapper, Hakeem Temidayo Seriki, better known as Chamillionaire, is another star who has won the Grammy award.
He won a Grammy award in 2007 for his song, “Riddin”, under the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
Lekan Babalola
Lekan Babalola is a Nigerian jazz percussionist and musician born in Lagos State, Nigeria, who started playing the conga at an early age. He has seven albums to his name and two Grammy awards.
In 2006, he won the Grammys for his work on Ali Farka Toure’s ‘In the Heart of the Moon’, which he was credited with three tracks.
He also won a second Grammy in 2009 for his work on Cassandra Wilson’s 2008 album titled Loverly.
Sikiru Adepoju
Another Nigerian Grammy award winner is Sikiru Adepoju. He is a Nigerian percussionist and recording artist who in specially into traditional African music and world music. He also plays a variety of instruments and styles.
He first won a Grammy in 1991 as a part of Mickey Hart’s group Planet Drum, whose title album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album and that was the first time there was a Grammy in that category.
He won again on February 8, 2009 as a part of Mickey Hart’s latest group Global Drum Project whose title album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Kevin Olusola
Kevin Olusola is a Nigerian-American musician, beatboxer, cellist, rapper, record producer, singer, and songwriter.
He is best known as the beatboxer of the vocal band Pentatonix.
Olusola’s musical group, Pentatonix, won the Grammy Award three different times.
In February 2015, Pentatonix won a Grammy in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or Acappella category for their song, ‘Daft Punk’ a medley of songs by Daft Punk. In February 2016, Pentatonix won a Grammy in the same category, this time for Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from their “That’s Christmas to Me” album.
In February 2017, Pentatonix won a Grammy in the “Best Country duo/group performance” category for Jolene”, which featured Dolly Parton.
Wizkid
Iconic singer and songwriter, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, won his first Grammy award after featuring in Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl Video.
They won the Best Music Video category in the 2021 Grammy awards.
Cynthia Erivo
Nigerian-English actress, singer, and songwriter, Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo, who was born on January 8, 1987, is known for her performance as Celie in the Broadway revival of ‘The Color Purple’.
She won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017.
