Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, Ayra Starr Lose To South African Artiste Tyla

The 66th Grammy Awards, South African artist Tyla Laura Seethal emerged victorious in the newly introduced ‘Best African Music Performance’ category, beating out prominent Nigerian nominees.

Tyla’s hit song ‘Water’ secured her the groundbreaking accolade, leaving established Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Olamide, and Ayra Starr behind.

The 22-year-old, of Indian and South African descent, expressed her astonishment and gratitude upon receiving the award, marking a significant milestone in her career. The category, part of three new additions at the 2024 Grammy Awards, showcased the global influence and diversity of African music.

While Burna Boy received four nominations and Davido secured three, both Nigerian stars faced disappointment as they lost in their respective categories to non-Nigerian contenders. Despite their nominations in ‘Best Global Music Performance,’ ‘Best Global Music Album,’ and ‘Best African Music Performance,’ neither artist brought home a Grammy this time.

The Nigerian music community will have to await another opportunity to vie for these new categories, with Burna Boy, previously a Grammy winner, securing his victory in the ‘Best World Album’ category at this year’s ceremony.