As the 66th Grammy Awards trends in Nigeria after Afrobeats singer, Davido and his colleagues, Burna Boy, Asake and Ayra Starr failed to bag a single award following their joyous nominations last year, Glamsquad take a look at five female Nigerians who have bagged the award in the past.
Sadu Adu
Nigerian-born British singer, Helen Folashade Ade better known as Sade Adu is the first female Nigerian to bag the prestigious Grammy Awards. She was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on 16th January 1959.
Interestingly, she bagged the award the Grammy Awards four times.
In 1986, she won her first Grammy Award for the Category of Best New Artist. In 1994, Sade won her second Grammy under the category Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal with the song ‘No Ordinary Love’.
Having displayed her incredible talent over the years, Sade Adu won her third Grammy Award in 2002 under the category of Best Pop Vocal Album with the song ‘Lovers Rock’. In 2011, Sade Adu won her fourth Grammy Award under the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal with the song ‘Soldier of Love’.
Cynthia Erivo
Nigerian-born British actress, singer and songwriter, Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo was born in Stockwell, London, United Kingdom on 8th January 1987 to Nigerian parents.
In 2017, Cynthia Erivo bagged her first Grammy Award for playing the role of Celie, an uneducated black woman in The Colour Purple between 2015 to 2017.
Jenn Nkiru
In 2021, Jenni Nkiru won her first Grammy Award under the category for Best Music Video for Beyounce’s Brown Skin Girl.
Tems
Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Temilade Openiyi better known as Tems was born in Lagos on 11th June 1995.
In 2023, Tems won her first Grammy Award for Best Rap/ Sung Collaboration. Her vocals for her song ‘Higher’ was used by American singer, Future on his song ‘Wait for You’. This consequently led to her being credited on the song alongside Canadian singer, Drake.
While we applaud these incredible females who have represented Nigeria and set a pace, fans look forward to when the likes of Tiwa Savage, Simi, Yemi Alade, Waje, Omawunmi Niyola, Niniola, Ayra Starr, and others bag a Grammy Award.
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