The United States Mission in Nigeria has congratulated Shaboozey, the Nigerian-American singer, for securing his first Grammy Award.
At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, Shaboozey won the award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his collaborative track ‘Amen’ with American rapper Jelly Roll.
The win was particularly notable as he triumphed over a field of celebrated American country artistes, including Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson, Margo Price, Tyler Childers and George Strait.
In a celebratory post on X, the mission praised the achievement as a testament to “American excellence in music” and highlighted the expanding global impact of Nigerian-American artistry.
The post also included a personal note about the artiste’s origins, explaining that his stage name, Shaboozey, derives from a childhood mispronunciation of his Igbo given name, Chibueze.
“Celebrating Nigerian-American artist Shaboozey who won his first #GRAMMYs, spotlighting #AmericanExcellence in music and the impact of Nigerian-American creativity,” the post reads.
“Fun fact: #DYK his name Shaboozey originates from a childhood mispronunciation of his Igbo name, Chibueze.”
The recognition comes amid controversy sparked by Shaboozey’s acceptance speech, in which he said, “immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them”.
The remark drew mixed reactions online, prompting the artiste to later offer clarification and context.
In a follow-up statement on X, Shaboozey expressed gratitude for his supporters while honoring the foundational role of black Americans in the nation’s history.
He explained that his speech was a personal tribute to his parents’ immigrant journey, not a dismissal of the enduring legacy and contributions of black people in the United States.
“First and foremost, I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who has supported and celebrated my journey as an artist. I also want to acknowledge the conversation surrounding my acceptance speech. To be clear, I know and believe that we-Black people, have also built this country,” the post reads.
“My words were never intended to dismiss that truth. I am both a Black man and the son of Nigerian immigrants and in the overwhelming moment of winning my first Grammy my focus was on honoring the sacrifices my parents made by coming to this country to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had.
“At the same time, winning this award on the first day of Black History Month and becoming the first Black man to win Best Country Duo is Black history.
“It stands on the foundation laid by generations of Black people who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded long before me. This moment belongs to all of us.
“My entire career has been rooted in lifting people up, honoring where we come from, and expanding what’s possible. I am proud to be part of this legacy, and I intend to continue doing that work for the rest of my life.”
Born Collins Obinna Chibueze, Shaboozey gained wider recognition in the industry following his appearance on the soundtrack of ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ in 2018.
