Nigeria Grammy Awards shutout as Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and others miss out on wins at the 2026 Grammy Awards
Nigeria recorded a disappointing outcome at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday night as leading Nigerian artistes failed to secure any competitive win despite strong representation across key categories.
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Burna Boy, Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid were all nominated for major awards but fell short, leaving Africa’s most populous nation without a Grammy trophy for the year.
South African singer Tyla emerged as the standout African winner, claiming Best African Music Performance for Push 2 Start.
She defeated Burna Boy’s Love, Davido and Omah Lay’s With You, and Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s Gimme Dat in a tightly contested category.
The victory marked Tyla’s second consecutive win since the category was introduced in 2024. She first claimed the award with Water, making her the inaugural recipient.
Her repeat success reinforced her growing dominance and influence on the global African music scene.
In the Best Global Music Album category, Brazilian icons Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia won with Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo, edging out Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, which had generated strong pre-ceremony buzz.
The Nigeria Grammy Awards shutout tempered expectations among fans who had hoped the country’s global Afrobeats surge would translate into multiple wins on music’s biggest night.
However, Nigeria still received significant recognition during Grammy week.
The late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy, becoming the first African artiste to receive the prestigious accolade.
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The honour underscored Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s enduring legacy and global impact, even as contemporary Nigerian stars endured a sobering night at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
