It was a first for Nigeria at the much-awaited 67th Grammy Awards ceremony in fire-ravaged Los Angeles on Sunday night.
Singer Tems, became the second-ever winner of the African Music Performance Award for her Afrobeats hit, Love me JeJe, from her debut album, “Born in the Wild”.
The Nigerian recording artist said she felt “blessed”.
Last year, South African sensation, Tyla, was the first winner of the newly created category.
This year, it was dominated by Nigerian artists, including Burna Boy and Asake.
Aside from the Best African Music Performance, Tems was nominated in two other categories – Best Global Music Album for Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning. Across her career, she has now received eight nominations in all.
She began making a name for herself in 2018 with the release of her self-produced debut single Mr Rebel.
Tems gained further attention in 2019 with Try Me. Her international profile was boosted after being featured on Wizkid’s song Essence, which earned her several award nominations, including one for a Grammy.
In another win for Africa, South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, was awarded a Grammy in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category.
He won it together with Japanese cellist, Eru Matsumoto, and Indian vocalist, Chandrika Tandon, for their album “Triveni”.
The festivities were revamped to be part awards show and part fundraiser for people affected by the LA wildfires.
A choir of students from schools destroyed in the fires sang the famine relief anthem “We Are the World”.
South African comic, Trevor Noah, who hosted the event, said at least $7 million were raised during the live broadcast.