In the aftermath of the 66th Grammy Awards ceremony, Nigerian artiste David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, took to his X handle to extend congratulations to South African rapper Tyla. Tyla emerged victorious in the inaugural Best African Music Performance category, securing the award for her song ‘Water.’
Davido graciously acknowledged Tyla’s win, despite not clinching any of the three Grammy nominations he received. In his tweet, he wrote, “Congratulations on your win @Tyllaaaaaaa! Big One for Africa! Keep soaring!”
The Grammy Awards, held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, saw a disappointing outcome for Nigerian artists. None of the five nominees of Nigerian descent—Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, Olamide, and Ayra Starr—secured an award across their combined 10 nominations in various categories.
The Afrobeat category, Best African Music Performance, included nominees Amapiano by Asake and Olamide, City Boys by Burna Boy, Water by Tyla (the eventual winner), Unavailable by Davido featuring Musa Keys, and Rush by Ayra Starr. Tyla’s victory marked a significant recognition for African music on the global stage.