The Grammy Awards, which started back in the 1950s, are widely regarded as the biggest music award an artist can ever receive in their career.

For musicians around the world, a Grammy is more than just a trophy. It’s validation on the highest global stage. Winning or even getting nominated can give an artist the global recognition they deserve.

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Over the years, the Grammys have opened their doors to sounds from Africa, and African artists have left undeniable footprints on the Grammy stage. And while the competition hasn’t always been easy, these wins prove that African music belongs in global conversations.

Here are 12 Africans who have received the Grammy Award

1. Miriam Makeba (South Africa)

Let’s start with the blueprint. Miriam Makeba, fondly called Mama Africa, was the first African artist to win a Grammy. She won Best Folk Recording in 1966 for An ‘Evening with Belafonte/Makeba’, alongside Harry Belafonte.

She earned two Grammy nominations in her lifetime, which was a big deal at a time when African music wasn’t even considered “global”. Beyond the awards, her win opened doors for African artists worldwide. She didn’t just win Grammys; she made history.

2,3. Babatunde Olatunji & Sikiru Adepoju (Nigeria)

These two are legends in African percussion. Babatunde Olatunji won a Grammy in 1991 for Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, while Sikiru Adepoju won Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2009 for Global Drum Project. Both were recognised for bringing African drumming to the global stage. They may not be pop stars, but their influence is deep.

ALSO READ: What Africans Wore to the Grammys 2026

4. Wizkid (Nigeria)

Wizkid’s Grammy moment came through collaboration, and honestly, it still counts big. He won Best Music Video in 2021 for Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’.

The song had four Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year. In the 2026 Grammy, he was nominated in the best African Music category for his song with Ayra Starr, ‘Gimme Dat’.

Wizkid is one of the first Nigerian artists to win a Grammy, and that win helped cement Afrobeats as a global sound, not a passing trend.  Starboy has really been carrying the culture.

5. Tyla (South Africa)

Tyla is proof that things can change fast. She won Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammys for Water. That was also her first Grammy nomination, and she won the award.

The category itself was newly introduced, and Tyla made history as the youngest African Grammy winner in that space. She also won in the 2026 Grammy Best African Music Performance category for her song ‘Push To Start’.

ALSO READ: Which African Artists Won Big at the 2026 Grammys?

6. Tems (Nigeria)

Tems’ Grammy win felt personal for a lot of us. She won Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for ‘Wait For U’ with Future and Drake and Best African Music Performance with her hit ‘Love Me Jeje’.

She is the first Nigerian female Grammy winner. Her voice has been everywhere since then, and the Grammys just confirmed what we already knew: she’s special.

7. Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Burna Boy didn’t just get nominated once and disappear. He won Best Global Music Album in 2021 for ‘Twice As Tall’. Before that win, he had three consecutive Grammy nominations in the same category.

In total, Burna has earned multiple nominations across several years, making him one of Africa’s most consistently recognised artists at the Grammys. African giant indeed.

8. Angélique Kidjo (Benin)

If Grammys were a frequent flyer programme, Angélique Kidjo would be platinum tier. She has won five Grammy Awards and earned over 15 nominations.

Her wins span across categories like Best Global Music Album and Best World Music Album, across multiple years from the 2000s to the 2020s. She’s one of the most decorated African artists in Grammy history, and honestly, the Academy loves her, for good reason.

9. Soweto Gospel Choir (South Africa)

Soweto Gospel Choir has won three Grammy Awards, with wins in Best Traditional World Music Album and Best World Music Album.

They’ve also had multiple nominations over the years, especially in the 2000s and 2010s. Their music is deeply spiritual, deeply African, and the Grammys consistently recognised that authenticity. Choir, but make it world-class.

10. Black Coffee (South Africa)

Black Coffee made history when he won Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2022 for ‘Subconsciously’.

That win came after two Grammy nominations, and it was huge because it placed African electronic music on a global stage. He is the first African artist to win in that category.

11. Fela Kuti (Nigeria)

Fela never won a competitive Grammy during his lifetime, but his impact on music was impossible to ignore.

In the 2026 Grammy, he was posthumously honoured with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition reserved for artists whose influence has shaped music history. A proof that a good name lives forever.

12. Sade Adu (Nigeria)

Sade Adu, the lead singer of Sade, has won four Grammy Awards: Best New Artist in 1986, for ‘No Ordinary Love’ (1994), Lovers Rock (2002), and ‘Soldier of Love’ (2011). She was the first Nigerian-born artist to win a Grammy and has received multiple nominations in various categories such as Best R&B Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.

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