In a post shared by BellaNaija, the Nigerian music industry is on high alert as the 68th Annual Grammy Awards kick off tonight at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Burna Boy leads the Nigerian contingent with two nominations, including Best African Music Performance for his hit “Love” and Best Global Music Album for No Sign of Weakness.
Davido also makes a significant return to the nomination list for his collaboration “With You” featuring Omah Lay. Meanwhile, “Sabi Girl” Ayra Starr has secured a nomination for “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid, a track that dominated airwaves throughout the past year. The nominations represent a peak for the “Afrobeats to the World” movement.
The atmosphere in Los Angeles is described as electric but tense, as the ceremony takes place amidst broader social unrest in the United States. Recording Academy President Harvey Mason Jr. has expressed hope that the music—particularly the global sounds from Africa—will act as a “healing” force for the audience.
Fans across Nigeria are organizing viewing parties, hoping for a clean sweep that would solidify 2026 as the most successful year in the history of Nigerian music. With Fela Kuti already receiving a lifetime achievement honor, the stakes for the active nominees have never been higher.
* Punch Newspapers (Official Website): “Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Tyla battle for Grammy glory… Sunday, February 1, 2026.”
* ThisDay Live (Official Website): “Wizkid and Burna Boy finally brought home the Grammy glory… competition intensified.”
Echotitbits take:
The “African Music” category is the real battleground this year. If Burna Boy wins again, he moves into legendary “untouchable” status. If Ayra Starr or Davido wins, it signals a shift in power towards the newer commercial sounds. Regardless of the outcome, the sheer volume of Nigerian presence in LA confirms that Afrobeats is now a global landlord.
Source: ThisDay — https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/02/01/nigerias-eyes-on-the-grammys/ February 1, 2026
Photo Credit: ThisDay
