The 2024 Grammy Academy Awards, held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, marked a disappointing night for Nigerian artists as none of them took home the prestigious golden gramophone.
Although eight Nigerian artists were nominated in a combined 10 nominations across different award categories, including Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, Olamide, Ayra Starr, Ckay, Fireboy DML, and Tems, not a single one emerged victorious.
Davido lost in the Best Global Music Performance, Album of the Year, and Best African Music Performance categories, while Burna Boy failed to claim victory in four categories, ultimately losing out to other artists.
Unsurprisingly, Nigerians have taken to social media to voice their displeasure with the Recording Academy’s choice in award winners. One of the major controversies identified by critics is the use of Fela’s ‘Water No Get Enemy’ as the background song to introduce winner Tyla at the awards ceremony. It seemingly implied that the organisers were not familiar with the song they deemed the best African music performance, sparking outrage among Nigerian supporters.
Another dispute arose in the Best Global Music Album category, where the winner, Shakti’s “This Moment,” was questioned for its low views and streams compared to other nominees. Despite a clear discrepancy in views, the Recording Academy clarified that members were expected to cast their votes solely based on quality, without consideration for sales, chart performance, personal relationships, regional preferences, or company loyalty.
Furthermore, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z condemned the Recording Academy for marginalising Black artists, highlighting his fraught history with the awards. He specifically noted that his wife, Beyonce, has won more Grammys than any other artist but has never claimed the esteemed Album of the Year, despite multiple nominations.
Additionally, the 2024 Grammys saw surprising drama with rapper Killer Mike’s arrest following his triumphant win of three Grammy Awards at the ceremony.
In conclusion, the 2024 Grammy Awards sparked immense controversy and disheartenment among Nigerian artists and their supporters. The event’s shortcomings have called into question the transparency and integrity of the Recording Academy’s selection process, leaving many to reconsider the value and worthiness of pursuing recognition from the prestigious institution.
