The 2026 Grammy Awards are finally here, and Nigerians are more than eager to hear from the most prestigious music event. Which artist will be going home with the Best African Music Performance award?

Since the beginning of the week, social media has been buzzing with netizens eagerly awaiting and debating who truly deserves the award in the Best African Music Performance category. And with the Grammys grand finale happening today, emotions are heightened more than ever.

Here are the #GRAMMYs nominees for Best African Music Performance 🏆

Complete list: https://t.co/cHx8Xo1NSK pic.twitter.com/kJV0zylttk

— billboard (@billboard) November 7, 2025

The Best African Music Performance award, first presented in 2024, was created to recognize the diverse sounds African music represents. It was meant to usher in a credible acknowledgement of the impact of African music on the continent and beyond.

While African artists have long earned recognition, such as Femi Kuti and Angélique Kidjo being nominated multiple times, the creation of this category signaled something deeper: African music, far beyond Afrobeats, would finally stand on its own. And while the category has so far been dominated by mainstream Nigerian acts, it also offers a gateway for artists across 54 countries across the continent to be seen and heard.

Since Nigerian star Tems won it in 2025 as her second Grammy, following Tyla’s win in 2024, more attention poured in this year’s nominations, which include some of the biggest African artists: Tyla, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Davido, Omah Lay, and Burna Boy. But there can be only one winner, so let’s unpack it. Which artist deserves to go home with the highly acclaimed award?

Best African Music Performance

“Love” – Burna Boy

In 2025, Burna Boy released his sixth studio album, No Sign of Weakness. While the highly anticipated project made waves globally, it fell short of what many expected from the self-titled African Giant. The project questioned his revered artistry, which many consider one of the most successful and culturally relevant in modern Afropop. Yet, on the 14-track LP, the track “Love” stood out as a highlight among the diverse songs featuring some of the biggest names.

“Love” carries the richness of Afrobeats or Afro-fusion that Burna has mastered. It sounds like a record crafted for live performance and critical listening, not just streaming numbers. Some of which can be said about what the Grammys look out for following Burna Boy’s Grammy history.

But while it carries these, it hasn’t created strong cultural moments across Africa. It feels like a safe Grammy choice rather than the most exciting African record of the year. The question is which the Grammys would be going for.

“With You” – Davido & Omah Lay

Davido’s “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, is definitely a strong contender for the Best African Music Performance award. A track off his sixth studio album, 5ive, didn’t just garner commercial impact but cultural impact within and outside Africa.

The song’s pivotal success made it a cultural fixture and social glue that bridged generations globally across social media and stadiums like OVO Wembley Arena, and it became the most-streamed song of 2025. The track’s production blends Afropop and Highlife, interpolated from Highlife legend Bright Chimezie’s 1984 classic “Because of English,” drawing on some of the elements that define the category.

Although Davido’s 5ive was less impressive, “With You” was an ingenious composition that heightened the album’s success. But this is more about the nominated song. The song’s commercial success maintained a strong presence on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart for 25 consecutive weeks, peaking at No. 5.

So, for a song like “With You,” Davido and Omah Lay have proven they deserve the award and are hence the most worthy contenders for it. But as much as Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You” achieved cultural and commercial success in Africa and the diaspora, it faces Tyla’s “PUSH 2 START” and Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” who have gained a strong footing in America.

“Gimme Dat” – Ayra Starr & Wizkid

In April 2025, Afrobeats pop star Ayra Starr featured heavyweight artist Wizkid on “Gimme Dat,” marking the duo’s second collaboration. It undoubtedly contributed to Wizkid becoming the most-streamed artist of 2025, as it recorded 1.75 million first-day streams on Spotify, with 900,000+ coming from outside Nigeria. And also debuted at the No. 6 spot on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs and achieved the No. 1 spot for eight weeks.

Its remarkable production and the catchy chorus became the highlight, opening the door to some cultural moments. The song sampled Mary J. Blige and Wyclef Jean’s 2000 hit “Calling Emergency Services,” which, combined with Galala rhythms, created a nostalgic yet modern sound that resonated with both older and younger audiences.

Although not the most defining hit songs from 2025 compared to other big hits released, it was a striking collaboration from the duo. But are these enough to crown the summer anthem the Best African Music Performance award?

“PUSH 2 START” – Tyla

One-time Grammy winner Tyla stands as another worthy contender who might be bagging her second win. “PUSH 2 START” isn’t just a blend of Amapiano, pop, and R&B; it’s a song that has garnered commercial success across charts. From topping the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for 14 weeks, to entering the Billboard Hot 100, making Tyla the second female African artist to have multiple solo entries on the chart. A song that has also peaked high on the UK Afrobeats Singles chart and achieved top 40 positions on various global charts. The song’s commercial success led to it being certified Gold in the U.S. in August 2025, for sales of over 500,000 units.

Aside from the commercial impact it has caused, the song’s cultural success has been felt within and outside Africa, including Tyla performing it at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival. And has contributed to the popstar winning the Impact Award at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music Awards. For a record like “PUSH 2 START,” Tyla might be making history again.

“Hope & Love” – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin.

While Eddy Kenzo’s “Hope & Love,” featuring Iranian artist Mehran Matin, didn’t dominate global charts like its competitors, one can say its nomination was driven by its specific cultural message and artistic collaboration. Unlike the Tyla and Davido’s hits, “Hope & Love” had relatively modest streaming numbers at the time of its nomination.

Yet the song’s soulful, meditative anthem conveys a cultural message of unity, faith, and compassion in response to global turmoil such as wars and disasters. The track also features the Masaka Kids Africana and blends traditional Ugandan sounds with Matin’s production, emphasizing music as a universal language. And looking at history, the Grammys have favoured songs that tread this path.

Will these be enough to crown Eddy Kenzo as the winner? While this would be a victory for East African representation, it would also question what the Recording Academy prioritises: artistic depth over purely commercial and cultural impact.

The Best African Music Performance category is no longer just about recognition. It is now a mirror reflecting how the world chooses to understand African music. And this night will tell us what the Recording Academy values most about Africa’s sound in 2026. Because while one artist will take home the award, the bigger story is what the choice says about African music’s place on the global stage.