Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, won her first Grammy on Sunday night. Tems that collaborated with Drake on Future’s “Wait for You” won the prize for Best Rap Melodic Performance. Additionally, the song was nominated for the award for Best Rap Song.
Tems now joins Sade Adu, the British-Nigerian singer, as Grammy-winning female performers of Nigerian descent.
Sade won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1986, earning her the trophy.
Burna Boy, who also holds a Grammy, was overlooked for the two nominations in which he was included. His ‘Love Damini’ album and ‘Last Last’ single were nominated for prizes for Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance, respectively. The winners of these categories were the Japanese singer Masa Takumi for his album ‘Sakura’ and Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, and Nomcebo Zikode for their album ‘Bayethe’ The prizes were announced at the Grammys’ inaugural ceremony.
Since 2021, when Burna Boy won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album for his album Twice as Tall, more Nigerian artists have endeavored to win the prestigious prize.
With Tems’ victory, Nigerians went to social media to express their optimism that Afrobeats will have a greater impact.
