In a groundbreaking year for African music at the Grammy Awards, Nigerian powerhouse Tems and Nigerian-American country sensation Shaboozey have emerged as standout nominees, marking a significant milestone in the global recognition of African talent. The nominations showcase the continuing evolution of African music’s influence on the global stage, with multiple artists receiving recognition across diverse categories.
Historic Multiple Nominations for Tems
Tems has secured an impressive trio of nominations, demonstrating her versatility and growing influence in the global music scene. Her nominations include:
- Best African Music Performance for “Love Me JeJe”
- Best Global Music Album for her debut “Born in the Wild”
- Best R&B Song for “Burning”
This achievement makes her the only African artist to receive multiple nominations across global music categories this year, underlining her status as one of Africa’s most promising international stars.
Shaboozey’s Breakthrough Year
Nigerian-American artist Shaboozey has emerged as one of the year’s biggest surprises, securing five nominations:
- Best New Artist
- Song of the Year (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”)
- Best Country Solo Performance (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”)
- Best Remixed Recording (David Guetta remix of “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”)
- Best Melodic Rap Performance (for his feature on Beyoncé’s “Spaghetti”)
His nominations represent a groundbreaking achievement, particularly in the country music category, traditionally underrepresented by artists of African descent.
Strong Nigerian Presence in Best African Music Performance
The Best African Music Performance category, now in its second year, features a powerful lineup of Nigerian talent:
| Artist(s) | Nominated Work |
|---|---|
| Asake & Wizkid | “MMS” |
| Burna Boy | “Higher” |
| Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay | “Sensational” |
| Tems | “Love Me JeJe” |
| Yemi Alade | “Tomorrow” |
Notable first-time nominees include Lojay and Yemi Alade, while Burna Boy and Asake return as category veterans.
Global Music Categories Showcase Continental Diversity
The Best Global Music Performance category features distinguished African representatives:
- Beninese legend Angélique Kidjo collaborating with Soweto Gospel Choir on “Sunlight to My Soul”
- Ghanaian reggae star Rocky Dawuni with “Rise” (his fourth Grammy nomination overall)
In the Best Global Music Album category, alongside Tems, Nigerian artist Rema competes with his sophomore album “HEIS.”
Analysis and Impact
Since Burna Boy’s groundbreaking nomination and subsequent win at the 2020/2021 Grammy Awards, African music has seen unprecedented recognition at music’s biggest night. While the Best African Music Performance category’s nominees being exclusively Nigerian raises questions about continental representation, it also reflects Nigeria’s dominant position in the current African music landscape.
The diversity of categories featuring African artists – from R&B to Country – demonstrates the versatility and growing global appeal of African musical talent. This broad recognition signals a continuing shift in the global music industry’s appreciation of African artistry.
The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 2, 2025, guaranteeing at least one African winner in the dedicated category, while opening possibilities for historic wins across multiple genres.
For the complete list of nominees across all categories, visit the official Grammy Awards website.