Its the Grammy weekend and the biggest night in music is just a night away. That’s right, the 60th annual Grammy Awards is going down tomorrow, Sunday, January 28, 2018, and while we are counting down to the big show, we would like to take a trip down memory lane and remember ten times Nigerians have been nominated for the prestigious award.
Nigerian recording artiste, Sikiru Adepoju, made his father’s land proud in 2009 when he not only got nominated for the Best Contemporary World Music Album for ‘Global Drum Project’, but also took home the coveted award.
Nigerian dancehall sensation, Timaya, had a major career milestone moment last month when he was nominated for an award at the upcoming Grammys. The artiste earned the nomination as a result of his collaboration with Morgan Heritage on the song ‘Reggae Night’. ‘Reggae Night’ also features Jaheil, Bunji Garlin, Dre Zion, Stylo G, Stonebwoy and Chubb Rock. ‘Reggae Night’ is featured on Morgan Heritage’s ‘Avrakedabra’, which is nominated for Best Reggae Album.
Nigerian musician, Kah-Lo, was nominated at last year’s show for her work on Riton’s ‘Rinse and Repeat’. She lost the Best Dance Recording award to Chainsmoker’s ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ featuring Daya.
Femi Kuti, the eldest son of African Afrobeat icon, Fela Kuti, has been nominated for a Grammy not once, but four times in the World Music category. He received his first Grammy nod in 2003, then thrice more in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Nigerian born American rapper, Chamillionaire, is a two time Grammy nominee and one-time winner. The musician won the Grammy in 2007 for his song ‘Riddin’. The song won the award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
‘Manya’ singer, Wizkid, bagged a nomination for Album Of The Year in 2017 when Drake’s ‘Views’ was nominated in the category. Wizkid was credited as a featured artiste, songwriter and producer on a song from the album, ‘One Dance’. ‘Views’ lost the award to Adele’s critically acclaimed ‘25’.
Kevin Olusola, the only black member of pop acapella group, Pentatonix, has in his home, not one, but two Grammys. The group bagged their first Grammy in 2015 when they won the Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘Daft Punk’. Thunder struck again in 2016 when they took home the award for Best Instrumental Arrangement again for ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’.
Nigerian born artiste, Sade Adu, is no stranger to nods from The Recording Academy. Sade has been in the running for a Grammy award nine times. The songstress has managed to go home with the prestigious Grammys gold gramophone four out of those nine times: 1986, 1994, 2002 and 2011 respectively.
Four must be a lucky number for Nigerian Grammy nominees because British – Nigerian crooner, Seal, has also won four Grammys. Seal took home his three awards for his song, ‘Kiss From A Rose’ in 1996. In 2011, he took home yet another Grammy for his collaboration with Paradisio, ‘Imagine’.
The living legend, King Sunny Ade, has been nominated for a Grammy twice. The first time was in 1983 in the Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording for his album ‘Synchro System’. The second time was in 1998 for his ‘Odu’ album in the Best World Music category.
