Wizkid’s Loss At 64th Grammy Awards Stirs Controversy Among Fans

Photo: Instagram

By Kinyua Mwangi

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It was a fairly long and frustrating weekend for Nigerian Afrobeat singer Wizkid and his fans as his much-touted hit ‘Essence’ failed to win him a Grammy Award.

Wizkid missed out on victory in two categories at the 64th Grammy Awards that went down over the weekend.

In the Best Global Music Performance category, Pakistani artist Arooj Aftab edged out Wizkid and other big artists.

Subsequently, Beninese singer, songwriter, and performer Angelique Kidjo received the Best World Music Album award at the event, which took place in Las Vegas.

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Wizkid’s fans were waiting with bated breath for ‘Essence’ to carry the day in the Best Global Music Performance category which Aftab won resoundingly.

Wizkid featured Tems and Canadian pop star Justin Bieber in “Essence’ - released in 2021. It nearly became an anthem in Nigeria clocking 79 million views on YouTube.

The ‘Ojuelegba’ singer also lost a Grammy in the Best Global Music Album category to Kidjo.

Born Ayodeji Balogun, the Nigerian crooner won a Grammy Award for his collaboration with American superstar Beyonce on her ‘Brown Skin Girl’ hit.

As a result, his fans had a lot to say about the loss. Here are some "excerpts" from Twitter.

@swagger_jeffrey: “Don't forget the weekend drop the best album last year and the #GRAMMYs's robbed him of that award... Same sh* they did to Wizkid today...I'm not surprised. The Grammy's is full of politics...so Fc don't relent.. Fall back to base immediately. Nothing fit shake us aje”

@sakpo007_ “No matter what, Wizkid made the GREATEST AFRICAN ALBUM EVER and It is named “Made In Lagos.”

@damiadenuga “2x Platinum song, Essence. You cannot take that away from Wizkid, Tems and Wizkid FC.”

@septimusprime “Wizkid was robbed for that Grammy.”

@whitenigerian “Grammy don mess up. Wizkid deserved that award but oh well, last last the grammy doesn’t determine your greatness!”