Africa’s biggest music stars are gearing up for Sunday’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the industry’s most prestigious global event, with Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr and Tyla all hoping to make history.
The four artistes are competing for the ceremony’s top African honour, Best African Music Performance, as they look to add another accolade to their growing collections.
On November 7, 2025, Burna Boy earned two nominations—Best African Music Performance for “Love” and Best Global Music Album for No Sign of Weakness—making him the most-nominated African artist in this Grammy cycle.
Other Nigerian acts nominated include Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid, alongside leading African musicians such as Angélique Kidjo of Benin, Eddy Kenzo from Uganda, South Africa’s Tyla and Senegalese icon Youssou N’Dour.
Nigeria’s strong presence is especially evident in the Best African Music Performance category, with Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido featuring Omah Lay on “With You,” and Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid on “Gimme Dat” all securing nominations.
They face competition from “Hope & Love” by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin, as well as Tyla’s “PUSH 2 START.”
Tyla is aiming for her second Grammy in the category, having won the inaugural award at the 66th Grammy Awards in February 2024 for her breakout hit “Water.”
Her 2025 entry, “PUSH 2 START,” has emerged as the most commercially successful song in the category. It topped the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for 20 non-consecutive weeks, reached No. 1 on the UK Afrobeats Singles chart, and debuted at No. 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The track has earned multiple certifications, including platinum awards in Brazil and New Zealand, and gold status in several other countries. It also claimed Best Afrobeats at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
Davido’s “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, has also enjoyed strong local and regional success and could secure the singer his first Grammy Award. The song topped the UK Afrobeats Singles chart, peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart, debuted at No. 1 on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100, and has surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify.
It won Most Iconic African Song at the 2025 AMAN Awards and marked Davido’s fifth Grammy nomination.
Meanwhile, “Gimme Dat,” the collaboration between Ayra Starr and Wizkid, recorded notable success, peaking at No. 3 on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100 and exceeding 50 million streams on Spotify.
Ayra Starr, a two-time Grammy nominee, and Wizkid, a six-time nominee with one previous win, are also strong contenders ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.
Burna Boy’s “Love,” from No Sign of Weakness, also performed strongly, reaching No. 1 on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100, No. 2 on the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart, and No. 4 on the UK Afrobeats Singles chart.
The singer is looking to extend his record, having accumulated 13 Grammy nominations overall, with a previous win for Twice As Tall at the 63rd Grammy Awards.
With such a competitive lineup, the Best African Music Performance category is set to mark another historic moment for African music, regardless of which artist emerges victorious.