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Home Culture Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay Lead Africa’s Charge at 2026 Grammy Awards

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Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay Lead Africa’s Charge at 2026 Grammy Awards

Ikenna ChurchillNovember 7, 20251 Mins read77

African music is once again taking centre stage at the 2026 Grammy Awards, with a wave of nominations that cements the continent’s growing global influence. Nigerian superstars Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, and Omah Lay lead the African contingent, alongside South Africa’s Tyla and Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo.

The Recording Academy on Friday announced the nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, set to hold on February 1, 2026. The “Best African Music Performance” category, introduced last year to recognise African artistry, is dominated by Nigerian names.

Burna Boy earned a double honour this year. His single “Love” was nominated for Best African Music Performance, while his album No Sign of Weakness received a nod for Best Global Music Album, making him the first Nigerian artist to score five career Grammy nominations.

Davido also returned to the Grammys race, this time for “With You”, a collaboration with Omah Lay, who picked up his first-ever Grammy nomination for the same track. The song’s blend of Afrobeats rhythm and soulful lyricism has been hailed as one of the standout releases of the year.

Rising star Ayra Starr clinched a nomination for her energetic single “Gimme Dat”, featuring Wizkid, further proof of her meteoric rise since her debut. Wizkid’s feature also secures him another mention among Africa’s leading nominees.

Beyond Nigeria, the category features South Africa’s Tyla, whose global breakout “Push 2 Start” continues her winning streak after her historic success at last year’s awards. Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin round out the nominees with their inspirational collaboration “Hope & Love.”

The heavy Nigerian presence across categories signals the country’s unrelenting dominance in African pop culture and its deepening connection with international audiences. From Burna Boy’s Grammy streak to Omah Lay’s debut nomination, the 2026 nominations reflect a generation of artists whose music now defines the global soundscape.

As anticipation builds toward the ceremony in Los Angeles, industry watchers say this year’s lineup underscores a broader truth: African music is no longer an export, it is a global mainstay.