The African Stars Who Stole the Show at the 2025 Grammy Awards
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AFI Insider
Was it just us, or were the 2025 Grammy Awards actually... interesting? For once, everything just worked, and let’s be honest—that’s not an easy thing to pull off. But this year, it did. Trevor Noah, now in his fifth year of hosting the Grammys, was absolutely brilliant.
He seemed completely at home on that stage, proving once again why he’s one of the leading comedians in the world. Even in a room filled with bigger and more famous stars, Trevor managed to shine, showcasing his undeniable talent and work ethic.
And the performances? Some of the best in recent years. The Best New Artist nominees reminded us why their songs have been so beloved, especially on social media. It was exciting to see them have their moment on stage. And the biggest news? Beyoncé finally won the Album of the Year award after being snubbed for more than a decade.
But this article isn’t a review of the Grammys—it’s about the impact of African stars at the event.
And it all starts on the red carpet.
What The Stars Wore
It’s never easy successfully making your mark at the Grammys, especially when the most famous musicians are given the best looks from design houses.
Tems
However, Nigerian musician, Tems is a global star and made sure to make a statement on the red carpet in a shimmering gold halter neck top, with a matching stole and opera-length gloves. This was worn with a black draped skirt by Robert Wun Couture.
Wouter Kellerman
Sticking with the black and gold was South African flautist, Wouter Kellerman, who wore a black suit with gold embroidery. He surprised us by opting for a black t-shirt instead of wearing an evening dress shirt. His partner, Tholsi Pillay, wore a gold gown by Gert-Johan Coetzee.
Trevor Noah
The evening’s host, Trevor Noah, looked debonair as always in a textured navy tuxedo blazer worn with a navy pleated dress shirt. He accessorised with a diamond brooch.
Yemi Alade
What better way to pay homage to your culture on a global stage than to incorporate it into your outfit? There really isn’t. And that’s why Yemi Alade had one of the showstopping looks at the Grammys. She wore a deep velvet red gown with a bodice boasting intricate beading. The dress then fanned out in a mermaid style silhouette, with intricate draped folds on the skirt. She then accessorised with the signature Edo culture beaded jewellery and a headdress.
Rema
Rema was ultracool in an outfit that was all about 80s and 90s hip hop, with a denim and leather look. But what we paid attention to, was the Calm Down singer's necklace, which had pendants that had pictures of his grandparents.
The Performances
The Queen of African music, Angélique Kidjo, was one of the performers at the Grammy Awards pre-show alongside, Wayne Brady, Scott Hoying, Deborah Cox, and Taj Mahal.
They performed Simon & Garfunkel’s timeless classic, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
The Winners
Two African musicians walked away with Grammys this year. Wouter Kellerman won his third Grammy for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album for Triveni, in collaboration with Indian vocalist Chandrika Krishamoorthy Tandon and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto.
Tems, facing tough competition from her compatriots, Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Davido, Lojay and Wizkid, walked away with the Best African Music Performance award for Love Me Jeje. This was her second Grammy.
What’s Next?
While the wins by Tems and Kellerman were cause for celebration, they also highlighted the need for greater recognition of African artists in mainstream categories. The Grammys have made strides in embracing global talent, but there’s still a long way to go before African musicians are consistently recognized across all categories.
When Tyla was snubbed for the main Grammy Awards for her debut album, Tyla, which had hits like Water, Push 2 Start, Jump, and ART, it sparked an outcry.
Her absence at the awards was a missed opportunity for the Grammys to leverage the star power of one of the most exciting musicians with global appeal today.
Header Image: Tems/ Instagram