Africa’s biggest music stars will take centre stage on Sunday as the Grammy Awards return, with Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr and South Africa’s Tyla all vying for top honours on music’s most prestigious night.
The four superstars are competing for the Best African Music Performance award, a category that has quickly become one of the most closely watched at the Grammys, reflecting the continent’s growing influence on the global music scene.
Burna Boy leads the African contingent this year after earning two nominations on November 7, 2025, which is Best African Music Performance for Love and Best Global Music Album for No Sign of Weakness. The feat makes him the most nominated African artist in this Grammy cycle.
Nigeria boasts a strong presence across the nominations, with Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid joining Burna Boy on the list. They are joined by other African heavyweights, including Angélique Kidjo of Benin, Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo, South Africa’s Tyla and Senegalese music legend Youssou N’Dour.
In the Best African Music Performance category, Nigerian dominance is evident. Burna Boy’s Love, Davido and Omah Lay’s collaboration With You, and Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s Gimme Dat all secured nominations. Also in contention are Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin, and Tyla’s PUSH 2 START.
Tyla is aiming to make history once again, having won the inaugural Best African Music Performance Grammy in February 2024 with her global smash Water. Her latest entry, PUSH 2 START, has enjoyed massive international success, topping the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for 20 non-consecutive weeks, leading the UK Afrobeats Singles chart, and debuting at No. 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song has earned multiple certifications, including platinum status in Brazil and New Zealand and gold in several other countries. It also clinched Best Afrobeats at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
Davido’s With You, featuring Omah Lay, is another strong contender and could finally deliver the singer his first Grammy win. The track 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 Spotify streams. It also won Most Iconic African Song at the 2025 AMAN Awards, marking Davido’s fifth Grammy nomination overall.
Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s Gimme Dat has also made waves, peaking at No. 3 on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100 and crossing 50 million streams on Spotify. Starr, a two-time Grammy nominee, and Wizkid, a six-time nominee with one previous win are both hoping to add another golden gramophone to their collections.
Burna Boy’s Love has enjoyed remarkable success as well, reaching No. 1 in Nigeria, No. 2 on the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart and No. 4 on the UK Afrobeats Singles chart. Already a Grammy winner for Twice As Tall at the 63rd awards, Burna Boy is looking to extend his record haul, having amassed 13 career nominations.
With several chart-topping hits and global acclaim in the mix, the Best African Music Performance category is set to deliver a landmark moment for African music, no matter who ultimately walks away with the prize.
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