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Top 10 Most Nominated Nigerian Artists At The Grammys

Here are the top 10 most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, the most reputable music Award around the globe

Published

6 months ago

November 15, 2023

The Grammy Award is one of the most reputable awards on the globe. It is presented to recognize “outstanding” achievements in the music industry and is regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant award in the music industry worldwide. The recent nominations announced by the organizers, revealed over 8 Nigerian singers on the list, an unprecedented number of Nigerian nominations in the history of the award. To celebrate these Unprecedented feat we have compiled a list of most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys.

Before getting to the list, it is imperative we reveal and honor the people who paved the way for other Nigerians on the Grammy Stage. An example is the legendary Juju singer King Sunny Ade, who was the first Nigerian Singer to get nominated for the Award as far back as 1983. The legendary percussionist and recording artist, Sikiru Adepoju broke the ceiling after becoming the first Nigerian to win a Grammy award in 2008. With that being said, here are the top 10 most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys.

10. Seun Kuti

Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti popularly known Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, singer and the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. He leads his father’s former band Egypt 80.

Although not as a notable as his Father, Seun and the band has attained relative success in and outside the country. In 2008, they an album called Many Things. This was the first album released under the moniker Seun Kuti & Egypt 80. Since then he released numerous albums and had featured in numerous songs.

Seun Kuti takes the tenth place among the top 10 most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, for having just one nomination to his name. He was nominated at the 61st Annual Grammy Award for the Best World Music Album, with his 2018 album Black Times.

9. Babatunde Olatunji (1 Nomination)

Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist. He is prominently known for leading the famous percussionist band, Drums of Passion.

Babatunde was also a prominent recording artist, with following among jazz musicians. He has recorded with prominent musicians of the time such as including Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Quincy Jones, Pee Wee Ellis, Stevie Wonder, Randy Weston, and with Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln and with Grateful Dead Member

Babatunde Olatunji is also one of the most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, also having one nomination to his name. He was nominated at the 40th annual Grammy award in 1988, for the Best World Music Album
with his album Love Drum Talk, engraving his name on the sand of time.

8. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (1 Nomination)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories, and nonfiction. She is considered by many, one of the greatest and most successful authors to come out of the African continent.

Adichie has written several novels, among them Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013), short stories, the book-length essays We Should All Be Feminists (2014)and Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions (2017), and a memoir, Notes on Grief (2021).

Despite not being a singer Chimamanda is also one of the most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, having one nomination to her name. She was nominated at the 57th annual Grammy Award, for the Album Of The Year, for featuring on Beyoncé eponymous album in 2013.

7. Sikiru Adepoju (1 Nomination)

Mickey Hart and Sikiru Adepoju in 2009

The legendary, percussionist and recording artist, Sikiru Adepoju, with also just one nomination to his name,joins the list of top 10 most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys.

Sikiru is however iconic for breaking the record of the first Nigerian to win a Grammy Award. He won the award in the Best Contemporary World Music Album category at the 51st annual Grammy Award in 2008 for his contribution to the album of Mickey Hart’s Global Drum Project.

Sikiru comes from a musical family in Oyo State. He learned how to drum from their father, Chief Ayanleke Adepoju. He went to America in 1985 to play O. J. Ekemode’s Nigerian All-Stars, where he met Babatunde Olatunji who introduced him to Mickey Hart and has since then been on several projects of the Drummer.

6. King Sunny Ade (2 Nominations)

King Sunny Adé, is a Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is regarded as one of the first African pop musicians to gain international success and one of the most influential musicians of all time.

King Sunny Ade was the first Nigerian artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award, after his 1983 album ‘Synchro System,’ was nominated for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording at the 36th annual Grammy Award. He was nominated again in 1998 for his ‘Odu’ album in the Best World Music category.

Despite not winning any of the nominations, King Sunny Ade is highly respected for paving the way for upcoming international singers in the international scene. According to reports, his success on the international scene opened the floodgates for other world music artists like Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, and Mali’s Salif Keita.

5. Davido (3 Nominations)

The multiple award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido joins the list as he recently earned three nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards set to take place on the 4th of February 2024.

The iconic singer grabbed a nomination for Best Global Album with his comeback album, “Timeless”. He was also nominated for the Best African Performance for his global hit song “Unavailable,” and Best Global Music Performance category for his song “Feel.”

With four studio albums to his name, Davido is considered one of the greatest and most influential musician in the history of the country. He has released multiple hits song across the world. and is presently one of the most followed African Celebrities on numerous social platform such as Twitter and Instagram

4. Wizkid (4 Nominations)

The African Starboy, Ibrahim Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid is a Nigerian superstar and one of the most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, with over four nominations to his name.

Wizkid got his first nomination at the 59th annual Grammy Award, he was nominated in the Album of the Year category for featuring on Drake’s intercontinental hit, One Dance. He earned another nomination and won his first and only Grammy award at the 63rd Grammy Award in 2020 for Best Music Video with Brown Skin Girl.

Following the release of his groundbreaking album, Made in Lagos (2020), Wizkid earned a double nomination at the 64th Grammy Awards, He was nominated for Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance with his global smash hit, Essence.

3. Tems – (5 Nominations)

Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems grabs the third spot among the top 10 most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, with 5 nominations to her name.

Tems earned her first nominations as a featured artist on Wizkid Essence for Best Global Music Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards. She earned a triple nomination at the 65th annual Grammy Awards. The nominations category includes the Album Of The Year for featuring On Beyonce RENAISSANCE.

Her collaboration with Future and Drake on the track titled Wait For You earned her two nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Melodic Rap Performance, with her winning the latter. She recently earned another nomination for her contribution to Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.”

2. Femi Kuti (6 Nominations)

Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti grabs the second spot among top 10 most nominated Nigerian artists at the Grammys, with six nominations to his name.

Femi Kuti got his first nomination at the 45th edition of the Grammy Awards in 2003, in the Best Global Music Album Category with his Iconic 2001 album Fight To Win. He earned another nomination in 2010 in the Best Contemporary World Music Album with his 2008 album Day by Day.

Femi’s most recent nomination was at the 64th Grammy Awards, where he earned two nominations. His first nomination was in the Best Global Music Performance with his song Pà Pá Pà. He earned the second nomination alongside his son Made Kuti in the Best Global Music Album with their 2021 double album Legacy +.

1. Burna Boy (10 Nominations)

The African giant, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy is the most nominated Nigerian artist at the Grammys acquiring 10 nominations to his name over the course of his career.

Burna Boy got his first nomination at the 62nd edition of the Award in the Best Global Music Album Category, with his record-breaking album African Giant (2019). He was nominated and won the same category at the 63rd edition of the Grammy Awards, with Twice as Tall (2020)becoming the first Nigerian to earn a back-to-back nomination.

Burna Boy recently garnered four nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards set to take place in February 2024, breaking the record for the highest Grammy nominations for a Nigerian Artist in one night. He was nominated for “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” for Best Melodic Rap Performance, “I Told Them…” for Best Global Music Album, “Alone” for Best Global Music Performance, and “City Boys” for Best African Music Performance.

Notable mentions

Other notable mention include Made Kuti, who was nominated alongside his Father Femi Kuti, atthe 64th anuula Grammy edition for the Best Global Music Album with their 2021 double album Legacy +.

Olamide and Asake recently earned their first-ever Grammy nominations for their collaboration “Amapiano” in the category of Best African Music Performance. Ayra Starr was also nominated in the Best African Music Performance category for the worldwide hit “Rush”.

Fireboy DML and Ckay earned a nomination each in the Album of the Year category for their contributions to Jon Batiste’s “World Music Radio” and Janelle Monáe’s “The Age of Pleasure,” respectively.