Nigeria is making waves at the 2025 Grammy Awards, with Nigerian artists heavily represented in the Best African Music Performance category. Leading the pack are returning nominees Burna Boy, nominated for his hit Higher, and Asake, whose collaboration with Wizkid, MMS, is also in contention. Davido, now a second-time Grammy hopeful, earns a nod for his contribution to Chris Brown’s Sensational, sharing the nomination with fellow Nigerian Lojay, who scores his first Grammy recognition for the same song. Yemi Alade earns her first solo Grammy nod for Tomorrow, while Tems rounds out the category with Love Me Jeje.
Tems’ Grammy journey extends beyond the African music category. Her debut album, Born in the Wild, is nominated for Best Global Music Album, alongside fellow Nigerian Rema, who earned his first Grammy nomination for his sophomore album HEIS. Additionally, Tems’ Burning, a standout from her album, is up for Best R&B Song, marking her as the only African artist with multiple nominations across global categories.
In Best Global Music Performance, Beninese legend Angélique Kidjo returns with Sunlight to My Soul, a collaboration with the Soweto Gospel Choir, while Ghanaian reggae star Rocky Dawuni earns his fourth Grammy nomination for Rise.
The Grammys also spotlight Nigerian-American country artist Shaboozey, who achieved five nominations this year. His viral hit, A Bar Song (Tipsy), is up for Song of the Year and Best Country Solo Performance, and the David Guetta remix has earned a nod for Best Remixed Recording. He is also nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his work on Beyoncé’s Spaghetti, and he joins the Best New Artist lineup.
Since Burna Boy’s breakthrough Grammy win in 2021, African music has steadily gained greater recognition, reflecting the genre’s global reach and influence. With Nigeria dominating Best African Music Performance, there is a near guarantee that an African artist will walk away with Grammy gold on February 2, 2025.
