The 67th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, was a spectacular event that seamlessly blended musical brilliance, cultural milestones, and fashion statements. Hosted once again by the ever-charismatic Trevor Noah, the night was filled with record-breaking wins, powerful performances, and groundbreaking African representation. From Beyoncé’s long-awaited Album of the Year win to Tems’ defining moment for African music, this year’s Grammys was one for the history books.
Before the awards even began, the night took on an emotional tone as the Recording Academy paid tribute to the victims and first responders of the recent wildfires in Southern California. The Academy announced a $7 million relief fund, highlighting the power of music in fostering unity and resilience. This moment of solidarity set the tone for an evening that went beyond just celebrating musical achievements–it was also about standing together in the face of adversity.
One of the biggest highlights of the night was Beyoncé’s historic win for Album of the Year with Cowboy Carter. Despite being the most awarded artist in Grammy history, this was her first-ever win in this category, a long-overdue recognition that had the entire audience on their feet in applause. The album, which saw Queen Bey experiment with country music while incorporating elements of R&B and soul, was widely praised for its artistic depth and genre-blending brilliance.
Another major moment came when Kendrick Lamar took home Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his hit diss track, Not Like Us. Known for his lyrical genius and creativity, Kendrick once again proved why he remains one of the most important voices in hip-hop today. His wins are a testament to his impact on the music industry and how his work continues to resonate globally.
For Nigeria and the entire African music scene, Tems‘ Grammy win was a defining moment of the night. Her hit song “Love Me Jeje“, a contemporary reimagining of Seyi Sodimu‘s 1997 classic, secured the award for Best African Music Performance. This was a groundbreaking win, reaffirming Tems’ place as a global force in music.
Taking the stage to accept her award, Tems delivered a heartfelt and emotional speech. With a voice full of gratitude and amazement, she appreciated God, her ever supportive team, her loving friends and her amazing mother, who stood beside her on stage. Without a doubt, Tems’ Grammy win underscores just how far African music has come in its journey to global dominance.
The African music scene was strongly represented at this year’s Grammys, with several artists earning nominations across different categories and many, earning a nomination in one single category; Best African Music Performance. Asake and Wizkid were nominated in the category for their song “MMS.” Burna Boy, Nigeria’s music giant, also received a nomination in the same category for Higher. Davido also secured a nomination for his hit collaboration “Sensational” with Chris Brown and Lojay. Lastly, Yemi Alade’s song Tomorrow was also nominated in the category, adding to the list of Nigerian artists making waves on the global stage.
Rema, whose genre-bending style has made him one of Africa’s brightest stars, was a strong contender for Best Global Music Album for his album, HEIS, but this category was eventually won by Matt B and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the album, Alkebullan II.
Beyond nominations, African stars were also front and center on the Grammy red carpet. Yemi Alade stunned in a bold red ensemble, an exquisite traditional attire, representative of the Edo culture. Lojay, Rema, Asake and Tems looked dapper and exquisite, absolutely showing up and showing out. Also present were the Ghanaian King Promise and the multi talented British-Nigerian, Cynthia Erivo. The event’s host, Trevor Noah, a proud South African, infused the night with humor and wit, and then there were absolutely outstanding performances from the Beninese-French queen, Angelique Kidjo as well as the American-Nigerian wonder, Shaboozey (A Bar Song), further emphasizing Africa’s growing influence.
Of course there were several other performances from a number of artists including; The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti (Timeless), Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars (Die With a Smile), Raye (Oscar Winning Tears), Doechii (Catfish), Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter (Espresso) and Chappell Roan (Brat), amongst others.
Like every Grammy ceremony, this year’s event had its fair share of snubs and surprises. Despite receiving multiple nominations, Taylor Swift did not secure a single win, sparking discussions about the changing dynamics of the Grammy voting process. In the Best Global Music Album category, many fans were disappointed when Tems and Rema lost to Matt B & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for ALKEBULAN II. This outcome once again raised questions about how African artists are recognized within global categories and whether they are still being sidelined despite their widespread influence. Another shock came when Sabrina Carpenter won Best Pop Vocal Album over industry heavyweights like Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish, showing that the Recording Academy may be shifting towards recognizing emerging voices over established mainstream stars.
The 67th Grammy Awards will be remembered as a historic night that celebrated diverse musical excellence, cultural representation, and groundbreaking wins. From Tems’ victory in Best African Music Performance to Beyoncé’s long-awaited Album of the Year win, the night proved that music is becoming increasingly inclusive and global. However, the event also reignited conversations about how the Grammys recognize African music and whether the Academy is truly ready to embrace its dominance.
Despite the snubs and surprises, one thing remains clear: African music is no longer a niche genre–it is a global powerhouse. With artists like Tems, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido leading the charge, the future of music is vibrant, diverse, and undeniably African.