Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, others battle for Grammy Awards

The anticipation is palpable as six Nigerian artists—Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Tems, Yemi Alade, and Asake—gear up for a showdown at the 67th Grammy Awards, scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
These artists have secured nominations across key categories, including Best African Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best R&B Song. Tems leads the Nigerian contingent with three nominations, while Burna Boy sets a historic record as the first African artist to be nominated for six consecutive years.
With such strong contenders, competition is expected to be fierce. While it remains to be seen who will take home the coveted golden gramophones, the night promises to be a defining moment for Nigerian music on the global stage.
Burna Boy and Tems Lead the Charge
Burna Boy, no stranger to the Grammys, is aiming for his second award with his track Higher from the album I Told Them, nominated in the Best African Music Performance category. This marks his second consecutive nomination in this category, where he faces stiff competition from Yemi Alade, Asake, Tems, and a collaboration featuring Chris Brown, Davido, and Lojay.
Tems, a rising force on the global music scene, stands as one of Nigeria’s strongest hopefuls with three nominations. Her track Love Me Jeje is in contention for Best African Music Performance, while her debut album Born in the Wild is vying for Best Global Music Album. Additionally, her song Burning has been nominated for Best R&B Song, cementing her status as a Grammy heavyweight. Following her previous win for contributing to Future’s Wait for U, expectations are high that she will add to her accolades this year.
First-Time Nominees Making Their Mark
Yemi Alade, Asake, and Rema are making their Grammy debuts, each with a shot at glory. Alade’s nomination for Tomorrow in the Best African Music Performance category underscores her dedication and consistency. As the first Nigerian female artist and the second Afrobeats act to surpass 100 million YouTube views for a single video after Davido, her recognition at the Grammys is a significant career milestone. However, she faces formidable competition from Burna Boy, Tems, and Chris Brown’s collaboration with Davido and Lojay.
Rema, whose nomination for Best Global Music Album with HEIS was widely anticipated, could further cement his status as an international superstar with a win. Similarly, Asake’s nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for MMS, featuring Wizkid, signals his growing influence beyond the African continent.
Angélique Kidjo and the Battle for Global Recognition
Beyond Nigeria’s representation, legendary Beninese-French singer Angélique Kidjo is in the race for Best Global Music Performance, thanks to her collaboration with the Soweto Choir on Sunlight To My Soul. She faces tough competition from Ghana’s reggae and Afro-roots artist Rocky Dawuni. A win for Kidjo would further solidify her legacy as one of Africa’s most decorated artists.
Trevor Noah Returns as Host
For the fifth consecutive year, comedian Trevor Noah will serve as the Grammy host. He is also a nominee in the Best Comedy Album category and will play a dual role as producer, as confirmed by The Wrap.
Notably, organisers have scaled down traditional Grammy Week events this year, repurposing the awards night as a fundraising event for major relief efforts following the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The Recording Academy and MusiCares have pledged over $3.2 million in emergency aid to assist music professionals affected by the wildfires. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, with on-demand access for Paramount Essential subscribers the following day.
A Star-Studded Line-up of Performers
As always, the Grammys will feature a high-profile lineup of performers, including nominees Shakira, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Doechii, RAYE, and Teddy Swims. Also taking the stage are 12 more artists, including Stevie Wonder, Cynthia Erivo, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Lainey Wilson, Herbie Hancock, Brittany Howard, Brad Paisley, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent, and Jacob Collier.
Before the main event, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be streamed live at 12:30 p.m. PT via YouTube and live.grammy.com, featuring performances from Yolanda Adams, Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Scott Hoying, Angelique Kidjo, Taj Mahal, Joe Bonamassa, Joyce DiDonato, Béla Fleck, Renée Fleming, Muni Long, Kelli O’Hara, and Kevin Puts.
Beyoncé’s Historic Moment
Pop icon Beyoncé will be a central figure at this year’s Grammys, leading the nominations with 11, including a nod for Best Country Album with Cowboy Carter. Her feat as the most-nominated female artist in a single year further cements her place in Grammy history. Other top nominees include Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone with seven nominations each, while Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift have secured six apiece.
With such a competitive field, this year’s Grammy Awards are shaping up to be one of the most closely contested in history.