The Grammys is a pinnacle of musical achievement which continues to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary talents within the industry. These esteemed awards have celebrated not only the artists whose voices quiver through our playlists but also the people behind the creations like the songwriters, producers, and instrumentalists who bring music to life.
Africa’s first Grammy Award winner was Miriam Makeba who won the Best Folk Recording for An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba in 1966 at the 8th Annual Grammy Awards. Today, the latest holder of the win is Nigerian artist, Temilade Openiyi alias Tems.
In a historic moment, Tems clinched the 67th Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. She beat over a daunting lineup of fellow nominees like Burna Boy, Asake, and Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay. In her acceptance speech, Tems expressed gratitude for the victory and dedicated the award to her mother, whose birthday coincidentally falls on February 3.
Tems now joins the ranks of Burna Boy, who previously took home the Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2021. This win marks Tems’ second Grammy victory. In 2023 the artist won the Best Melodic Rap Performance for the song “Wait For U” with hip-hop artists, Future and Drake.
Despite winning Best African Music Performance, Tems’ song 'Burning' did not secure the award, which went to SZA for her album Saturn in the category, Best R&B Song. Additionally, she faced tough competition in the Best Global Music Album category, ultimately losing to Matt B and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
2024 and 2025 embody remarkable chapters for Nigerian music. This surge in recognition emphasizes the growing influence of African artists on the global stage.
@kushconcertseries
