Nigerian Music Stars Wizkid and Burna Boy have emerged winners at the 2021 Grammy Awards. While Burna Boy’s ‘Twice As Tall’, his last year’s project, fetched him the ‘Best Global Music Album’ Category, Wizkid won his first-ever Grammy award for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, a 2019 song by Beyonce.
‘Brown Skin Girl was nominated for the category alongside ‘Life Is Good, a song by Future, featuring Drake, ‘Lockdown’ by Anderson Park, ‘Adore You’ by Harry Styles and ‘Goliath’ by Woodkid.
Reacting to his achievement, Burna Boy said, “Yes oh! Yes oh! Yes oh! Africa is in the Housemen! Africa, we are in the House! This is a big win for my generation of Africans all over the world! And this should be a lesson to every African out there: No matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it.’’
“No matter where you’re from because you are a king. Look at me now, Grammy Award-winning Burna Boy!
“Thank you to everyone, my whole family is here…”
He was nominated last year but didn’t get the award.
This year’s edition of the awards was earlier scheduled for January but was postponed. Burna Boy broke the Nigerian music record at the 63rd Grammy Awards by winning the Grammy award for his album Twice As Tall. He is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy in his second attempt.
Burna Boy’s win was announced at the award ceremony, which was hosted by TV show host, Trevor Noah. Twice As Tall, Burna Boy’s fifth studio album, was adjudged one of the best to be recorded by the 29-year-old Nigerian-born Damini Ogulu.
Wizkid won the Best Music Video for his song with Beyoncé. Twice as Tall, released on August 14, 2020, is a mixture of Afrobeat, dancehall, pop, and hip hop.
In 2020, Burna Boy’s fourth Studio, ‘African Giant,’ had vied for the category but lost to Angelique Kidjo. The Grammys described Twice As Tall as “a masterclass in the vibe and hustle that have made Burna Boy an international musical force”.
“He continues to torch limitations, seamlessly blending styles and genres and fearlessly fuelling the fire heating the melting pot of pop, Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae and more,” it said.
Meanwhile, Music star Davido has reacted to the victories of his contemporaries at the 2021 edition of the Recording Academy Awards aka Grammys.
The 28-year-old singer reacted to Burna Boy and Wizkid wins hours after the 63rd edition of the awards ceremony hosted by Trevor Noah on Sunday, March 14, in the United States of America. “Whichever way you look at it, this is a victory for Nigeria for the culture and my people! Congrats to our winners! Tule Naija!” Davido tweeted. Burna Boy broke the Nigerian music record at the 63rd Grammy Awards by winning a Grammy award for his album, ‘Twice As Tall.”
Sikiru Adepoju is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy for his performance in an album jointly produced. Burna Boy remains the first Nigeria-based, solo artiste to win the Grammys.
Nigerian afrobeat singer, Tiwa Savage also becomes the first female Nigerian to win at the Grammys for her collaboration in Coldplay’s eighth studio album ‘Everyday Life.’
The album got Best Record Packing and Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards 2021 (the 63rd edition) which was held on March 14 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA.
It should be recalled that King Sunny had got a nomination at the Grammys years ago but did not win.