Nigeria has become one of the strongest forces in global music. Over the years, Nigerian artists have not only dominated Africa but have also won prestigious international awards across Europe, America, and beyond.
From the Grammy Awards to BET, MTV EMAs, MOBO, and other global platforms, Nigerian musicians continue to raise the flag high.
Below is the Top 20 Nigerian Artists With International Awards, ranked by global recognition, impact, and award history.
1. Burna Boy 🏆
Genre: Afrofusion
Major International Awards:
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Grammy Award
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BET Awards (multiple wins)
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MTV Europe Music Award
-
MOBO Awards
Why He Ranks #1:
Burna Boy is Nigeria’s most globally decorated Afrobeats artist and a cultural ambassador for Africa.
2. Wizkid 🏆
Genre: Afrobeats / Pop
Major International Awards:
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Grammy Award
-
BET Award
-
MTV Europe Music Award
-
Billboard recognition
Why He Ranks High:
Wizkid helped Afrobeats break into mainstream global pop culture.
3. Davido 🏆
Genre: Afrobeats
Major International Awards:
-
BET Awards
-
MTV Europe Music Award
-
MTV Africa Music Awards
Why He Matters:
Davido’s consistency and collaborations pushed Nigerian music into global conversations.
4. Tems 🏆🏆
Genre: Afrobeats / R&B
Major International Awards:
-
Grammy Awards (multiple)
-
BET Award
Why She Matters:
Tems is the most internationally awarded Nigerian female artist of the modern era.
5. Sade Adu 🏆🏆🏆🏆
Genre: Soul / R&B
Nigerian Heritage: Yes
Major International Awards:
-
Grammy Awards (4)
-
American Music Awards
Why She Matters:
Sade is the most Grammy-awarded Nigerian-rooted artist in history.
6. Tiwa Savage 🏆
Genre: Afrobeats / R&B
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award
-
MTV Africa Music Awards
Why She Matters:
Tiwa Savage paved the way for Nigerian female artists internationally.
7. Seun Kuti 🏆
Genre: Afrobeat
Major International Awards:
-
Grammy Award
Why He Matters:
He continues Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat legacy on the global stage.
8. Yemi Alade 🏆
Genre: Afropop
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award
Why She Matters:
Her multilingual sound helped African pop reach international audiences.
9. Olamide 🏆
Genre: Rap / Afrobeats
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award (African category)
Why He Matters:
Olamide brought indigenous rap to international recognition.
10. D’banj 🏆
Genre: Afropop
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award
Why He Matters:
One of the earliest Nigerian artists to gain global club success.
11. 2Baba (2Face Idibia) 🏆
Genre: Afro-R&B
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award
-
KORA Awards
Why He Matters:
A pioneer whose music introduced Nigerian pop to the world.
12. Mr Eazi 🏆
Genre: Afrobeats
Major International Awards:
-
BET Awards (International category recognition)
Why He Matters:
A bridge between African and global music business structures.
13. Rema 🏆
Genre: Afrobeats
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award
Why He Matters:
One of the youngest Nigerian artists to achieve global award recognition.
14. P-Square 🏆
Genre: Afropop
Major International Awards:
-
MTV Europe Music Award
-
MOBO Awards
Why They Matter:
Africa’s most successful music duo internationally.
15. Ayra Starr 🏆
Genre: Afrobeats / Pop
Major International Awards:
-
BET Award
Why She Matters:
One of the fastest-rising Nigerian female artists globally.
16. Asa 🏆
Genre: Soul / Folk
Major International Awards:
-
French & European music awards
Why She Matters:
A Nigerian artist respected across Europe for soulful originality.
17. Flavour 🏆
Genre: Highlife
Major International Awards:
-
International African music awards
Why He Matters:
Highlife music’s strongest Nigerian global representative.
18. Ice Prince 🏆
Genre: Rap
Major International Awards:
-
BET Award
Why He Matters:
One of Nigeria’s most successful international hip-hop exports.
19. Adekunle Gold 🏆
Genre: Afropop
Major International Awards:
-
International festival and award recognitions
Why He Matters:
Blends African tradition with global pop appeal.
20. Falz 🏆
Genre: Rap / Afrobeats
Major International Awards:
-
BET Award (collaborative recognition)
Why He Matters:
Uses music and storytelling to project Nigerian culture internationally.
Summary Table: Top 20 Nigerian Artists With International Awards
| Rank | Artist | Major Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burna Boy | Grammy, BET, MTV EMA |
| 2 | Wizkid | Grammy, BET |
| 3 | Davido | BET, MTV EMA |
| 4 | Tems | Grammy |
| 5 | Sade Adu | Grammy |
| 6 | Tiwa Savage | MTV EMA |
| 7 | Seun Kuti | Grammy |
| 8 | Yemi Alade | MTV EMA |
| 9 | Olamide | MTV EMA |
| 10 | D’banj | MTV EMA |
| 11 | 2Baba | MTV EMA |
| 12 | Mr Eazi | BET |
| 13 | Rema | MTV EMA |
| 14 | P-Square | MTV EMA, MOBO |
| 15 | Ayra Starr | BET |
| 16 | Asa | European awards |
| 17 | Flavour | International awards |
| 18 | Ice Prince | BET |
| 19 | Adekunle Gold | International recognition |
| 20 | Falz | BET |
Nigeria’s music industry has gone fully global. These 20 Nigerian artists prove that Nigerian talent is respected, celebrated, and rewarded on the world’s biggest stages.
