The Grammys, the most prestigious music awards in the world, have stirred up controversy online with their list of African artists who have won the coveted trophies. Wizkid and Tems, two of Nigeria’s hottest stars, were conspicuously missing from the list, despite having won awards for their collaborations with global icons.
The list, which was released ahead of the 66th Grammy Awards on February 4, showcased the achievements of African musicians who have received the golden gramophones since the 1960s. The list featured legends like Miriam Makeba, the late South African singer who was the first African to win a Grammy, and Sade, the Nigerian/British pop sensation who has won four Grammys. It also included Burna Boy, the Afro-fusion star who made history as the first Nigerian solo artist to win the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category last year.
However, the list left out Wizkid and Tems, who have both won Grammys for their roles in ‘Brown Skin Girl’ and ‘Wait for U’, respectively. ‘Brown Skin Girl’, a song by Beyonce featuring Wizkid, Saint Jhn and Blue Ivy Carter, won the ‘Best Music Video’ category in 2021, while ‘Wait for U’, a song by Future featuring Drake and Tems, won the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category in 2022.
The omission of Wizkid and Tems from the list has sparked outrage among their fans and music lovers, who took to social media to express their disappointment and disbelief. Some accused the Grammys of disrespecting and undermining the contributions of Nigerian artists to the global music scene, while others mocked Wizkid and Tems for not being recognized as solo winners.
The Grammys have not yet responded to the backlash or explained the criteria for selecting the African winners. The 66th Grammy Awards will take place on February 4, and will feature performances by some of the biggest names in music, including Adele, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, BTS, and more.