The 67th Grammy Awards ceremony, held in fire-ravaged Los Angeles on Sunday night, marked a historic moment for Nigeria as singer Tems won the prestigious African Music Performance Award. The win, which came for her Afrobeats hit “Love Me JeJe” from her debut album “Born in the Wild,” made Tems only the second-ever recipient of this newly established category.
Tems expressed her gratitude and humility upon receiving the award, saying, “I feel blessed.” She added, “As much as I think I have something, I’m talented, and I have all these gifts, there are so many talented African young artists in Africa who are going to come out and even do more than me.”

Last year, South Africa’s Tyla became the first winner of the African Music Performance Award. This year’s Grammy stage was dominated by Nigerian artists, including Burna Boy and Asake, marking a continued rise of Afrobeats on the global music scene. Tems reflected on her impact, saying it felt “some kind of crazy” to think she could inspire young African artists, adding, “It feels like a weird blessing to be someone that inspires someone like that, looking at me right now and thinking, I could do that too.” She also emphasized how winning this award made her feel like she has “some kind of purpose or mission.”
In another remarkable win for Africa, South African flautist Wouter Kellerman was awarded the Grammy for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album. Kellerman received the honor alongside Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto and Indian vocalist Chandrika Tandon for their collaborative album “Triveni.”

The event also served as a fundraiser for those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. A choir composed of students from schools destroyed in the fires performed the famine relief anthem “We Are the World.” South African comedian Trevor Noah, who hosted the ceremony, announced that at least $7 million was raised during the live broadcast.
The Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, known for its glitz and glamour, also reflected the resilience and unity of the global community, as it combined musical celebration with philanthropy during an unprecedented year for both the music industry and the world at large.