With just hours to go before the 67th Grammy Awards kick off at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Nigerian music fans are eagerly anticipating whether their favourite stars will clinch victory.
This year, eight Nigerian artistes have secured nominations across three key categories, adding to the country’s growing influence in global music.
Nigeria’s artistes, including Tems, Rema, Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and Lojay, battle for recognition in Best African Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best R&B Song.
But what are their chances?
Let’s take a closer look.Tems Faces Tough Competition in Best R&B Song Category
Nominees:
Nominees:
- After Hours – Kehlani
- Burning – Tems
- Here We Go (Uh Oh) – Coco Jones
- Ruined Me – Muni Long
- Saturn – SZA
Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has already made history by becoming the first Nigerian artist to be nominated in the Best R&B Song category.
While her song Burning is a stunning showcase of her songwriting talent and vocals, the competition is fierce.
SZA’s ‘Saturn’, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, is one of the strongest contenders, having already been recognised at the MTV Awards, BET, NAACP, and Billboard Music Awards.
Similarly, Muni Long’s ‘Ruined Me’ is a strong favourite, as she eyes a clean sweep across all R&B categories. Tems’ nomination in an R&B category, rather than her usual global music section, is already a win for Nigerian music.
However, the stiff competition means her chances of taking home the award remain slim.
Can Rema or Tems Break the Global Music Album Curse?
Nominees:
- Alkebulan II – Matt B feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Paisajes – Ciro Hurtado
- HEIS – Rema
- Historias De Un Flamenco – Antonio Rey
- Born in the Wild – Tems
Rema and Tems are looking to follow in Burna Boy’s footsteps as only the second Nigerian act to win Best Global Music Album.
However, Nigerian mainstream albums have historically struggled in this category, as seen with past nominations for Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido. Rema’s HEIS delivers an Afrobeats sound with pulsating drum patterns and vibrant delivery.
Similarly, Tems’ ‘Born in the Wild’ is more of an R&B project than a globally diverse album.
Meanwhile, Matt B’s ‘Alkebulan II’ features strong South African musical influences combined with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, giving it a strong classical appeal.
Peruvian musician Ciro Hurtado, who has a history of working on Grammy-winning projects, is also a major threat with his album ‘Paisajes’, which blends South American folk with world music elements.
Antonio Rey, a previous Latin Grammy winner, also brings a rich Flamenco tradition into the mix. Much like previous Nigerian nominees in this category,
Tems and Rema face an uphill battle. A win for either would be a major upset.Best African Music Performance: Nigeria Dominates the Category
Nominees:
Nominees:
- Tomorrow – Yemi Alade
- MMS – Asake & Wizkid
- Sensational – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
- Higher – Burna Boy
- Love Me Jeje – Tems
For the first time in Grammy history, a Nigerian artist is guaranteed to win Best African Music Performance, as four out of five nominees are homegrown stars.
However, one non-Nigerian artist, Chris Brown, could throw a spanner in the works with his song ‘Sensational’, featuring Davido and Lojay.
With Tyla’s 2024 win setting a precedent, ‘Sensational’ is the nominee with the most commercial impact in the United States, making it a strong contender.
However, the optics of a non-African winning this category could work against it.
Tems’ ‘Love Me Jeje’ samples a Nigerian classic of the same title by Seyi Sodimu and has performed well commercially, while Burna Boy, a past Grammy winner, remains a major threat.
Asake’s ‘MMS ’ featuring Wizkid also stands a chance due to the combined profile of both stars, while Yemi Alade’s *Tomorrow* carries the most significant African sonic elements.
Will Nigeria Add to Its Grammy Haul?
With eight Nigerian artists in contention, the 2025 Grammys could be a defining moment for the country’s music industry. While the Best African Music Performance category is already a guaranteed win, the biggest tests remain in the Best Global Music Album and Best R&B Song categories.
As the countdown begins, fans are hoping for a historic night that cements Nigeria’s place as a global music powerhouse.
