NIGERIA AT THE 67TH GRAMMYS: A DEFINING MOMENT FOR AFROBEATS AND GLOBAL MUSIC

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events in recent history, bringing together the biggest names in music for a night of celebration, competition, and global recognition. Scheduled for Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, the prestigious event will once again be hosted by Trevor Noah, marking his fifth consecutive year at the helm. Known for his sharp wit and engaging stage presence, Noah’s return ensures a night filled with humor and high energy.

This year, the Grammy nominations are dominated by Beyoncé, who leads with an impressive 11 nods for her album Cowboy Carter, followed by Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone, each with seven nominations. Other heavyweights in the industry like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan are also in the mix, competing for top honors across major categories.

As anticipation builds, the ceremony promises electrifying performances from some of the industry’s biggest stars. Confirmed performers include Stevie Wonder, Cynthia Erivo, Chris Martin, Brad Paisley, Janelle Monáe, Lainey Wilson, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Herbie Hancock, St. Vincent, Jacob Collier, Brittany Howard, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, Travis Scott, and Burna Boy, further cementing Afrobeats’ global presence. Notably, the event will feature a tribute to the late Quincy Jones, celebrating his life and legacy, and will also focus on raising funds for wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles, where fires have caused significant damage and loss of life.

Beyond the spectacle, the 67th Grammys carries significant weight for Nigerian artists, who are once again staking their claim on the global stage with multiple nominations across different categories. With Afrobeats and African music continuing their meteoric rise, this year’s awards could be a defining moment for the genre’s place in international music history.

For decades, Nigerian artists have flirted with Grammy recognition, but true dominance has only begun in recent years. The country’s Grammy journey dates back to King Sunny Adé, whose albums Synchro System (1984) and Odu (1999) earned nominations. Femi Kuti followed suit in the 2000s, earning multiple nominations but never clinching a win. The narrative changed in 2021 when Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall won Best Global Music Album, marking the first time a Nigerian artist received a Grammy for their own body of work.

Since then, the Grammy presence of Nigerian artists has grown exponentially. Wizkid, Femi & Made Kuti, and Tems have all received nominations, with Tems securing a historic win in 2023 for her work on Future’s Wait for U. Now, in 2025, the stakes are even higher as Nigerian artists compete in both new and existing categories, proving that their influence is more than just a trend–it’s a movement that has come to stay.

This year’s Grammy nominations for Nigeria are spread across three categories: Best African Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best R&B Song. Let’s take a closer look at the nominated artists and their projects.

 

TEMS

Tems is no stranger to Grammy attention. After securing a win in 2023 for her feature on Future’s Wait for U, she returns this year with three nominations, making her one of the most decorated Nigerian nominees. Her song “Love Me Jeje”, a modern take on Seyi Sodimu’s classic, is up for Best African Music Performance. Meanwhile, “Burning” is in the highly competitive Best R&B Song category, pitting her against industry heavyweights like SZA and Victoria Monét. Additionally, her debut album, Born in the Wild, earned a nomination for Best Global Music Album, a testament to her growing global influence.

 

BURNA BOY

A Grammy veteran at this point, Burna Boy is back with another nomination for “Higher” in the Best African Music Performance category. Having won in 2021 for Twice As Tall and securing multiple nominations since, Burna Boy’s continued presence at the Grammys solidifies his status as one of the most internationally recognized African artists.

 

DAVIDO & LOJAY 

Davido makes his Grammy debut this year with a feature on Chris Brown’s “Sensational”, alongside Lojay. Known for his commercial success and crossover appeal, Davido’s presence in this category marks a major milestone for his career and further cements his role in Afrobeats’ global rise. For Lojay, this could very well be a game changer that’ll elevate him to far greater heights than even his magnum opus “Monalisa,” could take him.

 

ASAKE & WIZKID 

Two of Nigeria’s most influential artists today, Asake and Wizkid, with their outstanding team up on “MMS”, a standout single off Asake’s third studio album  Lungu Boy, securing a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category. Asake, one of Afrobeats’ fastest-rising stars, makes his Grammy debut alongside the long established industry heavyweight Wizkid, a past nominee who has played a crucial role in taking Afrobeats to the world stage.

 

REMA

Fresh off the global success of “Calm Down”, Rema earns his first Grammy nomination with his sophomore album HEIS, in the Best Global Music Album category. His ability to blend Afrobeats with elements of pop and trap makes him one of the most versatile Nigerian artists of his generation and with the outstanding creativity displayed on the album, it’s no surprise that his name is listed here.

 

YEMI ALADE

Afropop queen Yemi Alade earns a nomination for “Tomorrow”, a track that showcases her powerful vocals and signature uplifting style. As one of the most successful female artists out of the African continent, her inclusion in this category highlights the diversity of African music on the Grammy stage and the appreciation for a diverse variety of sounds.

 

Best African Music Performance: A Battle of Dynamism

The introduction of the Best African Music Performance category is a major win for the continent, providing a dedicated space for African artists at the Grammys. With five Nigerian nominees out of six, this is the category where Nigeria has the strongest presence.

Each track in this category brings a distinct flavor:  Tems’ “Love Me Jeje” revives a Nigerian classic with modern finesse, Burna Boy’s “Higher” delivers the signature Afro-fusion depth that has made him a global powerhouse, Chris Brown’s “Sensational” (feat. Davido & Lojay) blends Afrobeats with a silky R&B touch, Asake’s “MMS” featuring Wizkid, showcases a smooth and calm flow that effortlessly soothes and Yemi Alade’s “Tomorrow” presents a vibrant, uplifting Afropop anthem–all of them, distinctly different in terms of sound and vibe but unquestionably outstanding. It certainly makes for a tough choice for the panel tasked with deciding which project gets the Grammy award.

While the competition is stiff, this category is particularly significant because it represents the first time Nigerian artists are almost guaranteed a Grammy win, regardless of who takes the trophy home.  

 

Best Global Music Album: Nigeria vs. The World

Nigeria’s presence in the Best Global Music Album category has been growing, with Burna Boy (2021), Wizkid (2022 nomination), and Angélique Kidjo (featuring Nigerian artists) winning in past years. This year, Tems’ Born in the Wild and Rema’s HEIS are in contention, bringing modern Afrobeats into a category historically dominated by world music veterans.  

Tems’ album blends R&B, Afrobeats, and alternative sounds, creating a deeply personal body of work, while Rema’s HEIS expands the genre’s boundaries with an experimental, globalized sound. Their competitors include seasoned global artists, making this a tough battle, but a win for either would mark a defining moment for Afrobeats as a recognized global genre.  

 

Best R&B Song: Tems Takes on America’s Finest

Tems’ nomination for “Burning” in the Best R&B Song category pits her against SZA, Victoria Monét, Coco Jones, and Robert Glasper–some of the most dominant forces in modern R&B. While Tems has successfully blurred the lines between Afrobeats and R&B, this category has traditionally favored American artists, making her path to victory challenging. However, given her increasing influence in the U.S. market and previous Grammy success, she remains a strong contender.  

Ultimately, a Nigerian sweep at the 67th Grammys wouldn’t just be a triumph for the individual artists–it would be a milestone for African music as a whole. Over the past decade, Afrobeats has grown from an underground movement into a global phenomenon, and Grammy wins would further solidify its dominance on the world stage.  

For our Grammy nominated artists, a win could translate into even greater international collaborations, increased streaming numbers, and more influence in shaping the future of global pop music. For emerging artists as well as the multitude of listeners, it signals that Nigerian music isn’t just trending–it’s here to stay.  

Even if Nigerian artists don’t secure all the wins, their strong presence alone is a victory. The world is watching, and Afrobeats isn’t just knocking on the door of global music–it has already stepped in and taken a seat at the table. Regardless of the results, one thing is certain: Nigeria has arrived, and there’s no turning back.

All eyes will be on the Crypto.com Arena on February 4, and whatever happens, this moment belongs to Nigeria.