In a disappointing turn of events at the 66th Grammy Awards, Davido, the renowned Afrobeats singer, faced defeat in all three categories he was nominated for: Best Global Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best African Music Performance.
Despite expressing optimism about his chances, Davido fell short of clinching his first Grammy.
The Nigerian artist, along with fellow nominees Burna Boy, Olamide, Ayra Starr, and Asake, left the ceremony without any awards.
The Best Global Music Performance category saw South Africa’s Tyla emerge victorious with her hit song ‘Water,’ overshadowing a notable lineup of Nigerian talents, including Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, and Ayra Starr.
Before the ceremony, Davido spoke with Billboard’s Tetris Kelly, expressing his excitement about the nominations and highlighting the significance of an African music category at the Grammys. He emphasized the long-overdue recognition for African music, citing influential figures like Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade.
While Davido’s Grammy aspirations remain unfulfilled, other notable winners at the 2024 Grammy Awards include Barbie the Album for best compilation soundtrack for visual media, Chris Stapleton for best country song and best country solo performance, and Killer Mike, Lil Durk, J. Cole, and Victoria Monét in various rap and R&B categories.
Despite the setbacks, the African music community remains hopeful for increased recognition on the global stage in future Grammy ceremonies.
