The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are giving Africa its biggest spotlight yet. The Best African Music Performance category is now one of the show’s fiercest races - led by Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Tyla, and Eddy Kenzo.

Their nominations reflect not just the continent’s sonic diversity, but its expanding cultural power. Afrobeats, amapiano, and pan-African collaborations now shape global pop, streaming charts, and festival headliners from Lagos to Los Angeles.

“Africa is no longer influencing pop - it is pop,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “These artists are creating the blueprint for what modern global music sounds like.”

Burna Boy - Love

For Burna Boy, this nomination continues a legacy of dominance. Love carries the introspection and grandeur that have defined his evolution from Afrofusion pioneer to global visionary.

Produced with his longtime collaborators La Paciencia and MAG, the record blends Yoruba chants with cinematic instrumentation and subtle electronic layering — a sound equal parts Lagos and London.

“Every Burna Boy song is a statement of independence,” said Rolling Stone Africa’s Joey Akan. “He doesn’t chase trends; he sets them.”

This marks Burna Boy’s seventh Grammy nomination, reaffirming his position as the genre’s torchbearer and Africa’s most decorated contemporary artist on the global stage.

Davido Featuring Omah Lay - With You

Davido’s With You, featuring Omah Lay, is an anthem of warmth — built on breezy percussion, romantic hooks, and sleek production that glides effortlessly between Afropop and R&B.

Omah Lay’s velvet delivery complements Davido’s exuberance, creating one of the year’s most balanced duets. The track’s success underscores a recurring truth in Davido’s career — his ability to turn intimacy into universality.

“Davido represents joy in its purest musical form,” said The Guardian Nigeria’s Motolani Alake. “He’s the sound of collective celebration.”

If he wins, it will be Davido’s first Grammy victory - a milestone fans across Africa have anticipated for years.

Ayra Starr Featuring Wizkid - Gimme Dat

Ayra Starr, Nigeria’s youngest Grammy nominee this year, joins forces with Wizkid for Gimme Dat, a sultry Afropop track soaked in rhythm and charisma.

The record pulses with amapiano undertones, glossy synths, and effortless swagger - proof of Ayra’s rising confidence and Wizkid’s veteran polish.

“Ayra Starr is the voice of Afrobeats’ next chapter,” said BBC 1Xtra’s DJ Edu. “She’s merging pop precision with African soul - and ‘Gimme Dat’ is her breakout on the world stage.”

It’s also one of the year’s strongest collaborations, showcasing gender balance and generational synergy in a genre that’s historically male-driven.

Tyla - PUSH 2 START

Fresh off her global breakout hit Water, South Africa’s Tyla returns with PUSH 2 START, a kinetic amapiano banger infused with pop precision.

Built on hypnotic log drums, smooth harmonies, and her signature whisper-sung delivery, the track captures the energy of Johannesburg’s dance floors while appealing to mainstream radio.

“Tyla is amapiano’s global ambassador,” wrote Billboard’s Jason Lipshutz. “Her sound is both futuristic and rooted — the perfect bridge between township and TikTok.”

Her nomination marks another milestone for South Africa’s fast-rising genre, which has now cemented its place in the global Grammy lexicon.

Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin - Hope & Love

Ugandan veteran Eddy Kenzo returns to the Grammys with Hope & Love, a collaboration with Iranian composer Mehran Matin that embodies the spirit of cross-cultural unity.

Fusing Afrobeat rhythm with Persian instrumentation, the track is both meditative and uplifting, reflecting Kenzo’s evolution from dancehall innovator to humanitarian voice.

“This song isn’t just about rhythm,” Kenzo said in a recent BBC Africa interview. “It’s about connection - from Kampala to Tehran, from struggle to celebration.”

Why This Category Matters

When the Recording Academy introduced Best African Music Performance in 2024, it was viewed as a symbolic nod to representation. Two years later, it’s one of the Grammys’ most anticipated categories — a space where collaboration, innovation, and cultural authenticity collide.

The 2026 nominees embody the continent’s sonic evolution: Nigeria’s Afrobeats, South Africa’s amapiano, Uganda’s fusion, and cross-regional collaborations that stretch beyond Africa’s borders.

“This category proves African music is no longer regional — it’s universal,” said Apple Music’s Cuppy Otedola. “From Lagos to Johannesburg, the sound has outgrown geography.”

The Takeaway

Burna Boy’s mastery, Davido’s warmth, Ayra Starr’s freshness, Tyla’s rhythm, and Eddy Kenzo’s vision define an era where Africa isn’t just competing at the Grammys — it’s leading them.

Whoever wins, the category already tells the larger story: the sound of the 21st century is African, and the world is finally tuned in.