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Disappointed But Undeterred: Cobhams Asuquo Reacts to Nigeria’s Empty Night at the Grammys
Renowned Nigerian musician and producer Cobhams Asuquo has weighed in on the aftermath of the 68th Grammy Awards, expressing disappointment after Nigerian artists once again walked away without a win at the ceremony held in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
Reacting to the outcome, Asuquo criticised the Recording Academy, accusing the Grammys of benefiting economically from Nigerian artists while offering little more than temporary validation in return.
According to him, Nigerian musicians are often used to drive interest, visibility, and spending around the awards, especially in cities like Los Angeles.
Speaking on the issue, the producer described the Grammys’ relationship with Nigerian artists as misleading and transactional.
“I think Grammy is using Nigerians to boost the GDP of Los Angeles. It’s like a carrot dangling in front of us and it goes away,” he said.
His comments followed the Best African Music Performance category, where South African star Tyla emerged victorious once again, beating several Nigerian nominees.
Asuquo went further to address a deeper issue within the industry, pointing out that despite Afrobeats’ global dominance, Nigeria still lacks strong, respected institutions capable of recognizing and rewarding excellence on their own terms.
He urged key players in the Nigerian music space to shift focus from chasing foreign validation and instead invest in building credible, homegrown award platforms that truly reflect the culture and its impact.
“I think we need to build something that is ours,” he added, drawing a comparison with American sports culture. “It’s only America that will do Super Bowl and be playing it themselves.”
His remarks have since sparked conversations online, reigniting debates around recognition, ownership, and the long-term future of African music on the global stage.
“Grammy is using us to boost the GDP of Los Angeles. We need to build something that’s ours; they have the Superbowl. Let’s grow something that can make other people converge in our space.”
– Cobhams Asuquo pic.twitter.com/GmzagzRTqg
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) February 3, 2026