Will A Nigerian Artiste Ever Win His/Her Own Grammy Award?

Tonight will see the 59th edition of the Grammys take place in Los Angeles and it goes without saying that many will see their dreams come true or get dashed.

Whatever the case, the Grammys is the known pinnacle of music. Being nominated alone earns the artiste a new level of reverence and serves as a reference in their CV.

So yes, Nigerian music could do with the Grammys to get validation on the global scene; but that’s not the only validation that matters in the grand scheme of things.

Bear with me a moment as I use football as an example of getting validation.

Before Cristiano, there was THE Ronaldo who was known for scoring goals for fun and earned the nickname ‘The Phenomenon’ as a result.

Despite playing for a number of the biggest clubs at the time, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan, Ronaldo somehow never won the biggest prize in club football – the European Champions League.

He’s not even among the top five all-time goalscorers of the competition, yet Ronaldo remains revered by millions to the point that he’s still referred to as ‘the real Ronaldo’ when his name and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s are mentioned in the same breath.

Or look at Lionel Messi. All the goals and all the talent and all the trophies won, yet he would surely trade it all (or most anyway) for a chance to be a World Cup and Copa America winner.

But that won’t make him any less greater than he already is, such that you feel there are people who would insist till after they pass Heaven’s pearly gates that he’s greater than Pele and Maradona who pretty much won it all.

Back to Grammys talk though. As much as the likes of 2face Idibia, Wizkid, Asa or your favourite artiste (insert Reminisce alongside Wizkid for me here, bless) try with their songs, it takes nothing away from their greatness if they never get nominated for or win a Grammy.

Uncle Femi Kuti has been nominated four times before and never won, but is he your ordinary musician? King Sunny Ade, Oliver de Coque, Ebenezer Obey, Onyeka Onwenu and more hold their places at the echelons too, and not winning a Grammy didn’t take a shine off them.

Therefore, if the present crop of artistes are getting their songs heard across the waters – and we’ve seen Wizkid, Tekno, P-Square, Olamide and the songs of others heard overseas in numbers – what more do they need as validation?

Trophies add a great look to the interior decor no doubt but if your work is great, it will be appreciated. Period.

Notorious BIG and 2Pac are two of hip hop’s biggest icons and still see their songs enjoyed by all despite being dead for two decades.

People don’t remember Elvis Presley for the awards won but do so for the music he made. Same goes for the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston and more.

Yes, I’d greatly love to see mainstream Nigerian artistes, born, bred and buttered in Nigeria, win awards and share the stage with the Beyonces, Adeles, Kendrick Lamars and Ed Sheerans.

Wizkid’s even nominated for his production work and feature on Drake‘s album, Views while another Nigerian, Kah-Lo is nominated in the in the Best Dance Recording category.

All that comes from the great sounds emanating from the new sounds Nigerians are infusing to the already known genres. It’s why the big labels are signing some of our biggest names, so they can penetrate a market just waiting to blow.

So if a Grammy doesn’t come, Nigerian music will be just fine. Not to say the artistes should stop stepping up their game, but Nigerian music will be fine eventually.

Besides, if it’s awards, we already have our own awards here in Africa that we are winning every other year. No time.