The 2026 Grammy Awards nominations were unveiled on Friday evening, and while Nigerian afrobeat stars dominated the shortlist, Ghanaian artists were notably absent—a decision that has sparked reactions from fans across the country.
Among the nominees for Best African Music Performance are some of Nigeria’s biggest names: Davido and Omah Lay for their hit collaboration With You, Burna Boy with Love, Ayra Starr alongside Wizkid for Gimme Dat, Tyla with PUSH 2 START, and Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin for Hope & Love.
Burna Boy, who already holds a Grammy, also earned a nomination for Best Global Music Album with No Sign of Weakness.
Best African Music Performance Nominees:
- Love – Burna Boy
- With You – Davido & Omah Lay
- Hope & Love – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin
- Gimme Dat – Ayra Starr & Wizkid
- PUSH 2 START – Tyla
Best Global Music Album Nominees:
- No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy
- Sounds Of Kumbha – Siddhant Bhatia
- Éclairer le monde: Light the World – Youssou N’Dour
- Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) – Shakti
- Chapter III: We Return To Light – Anoushka Shankar Featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar
- Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo – Caetano Veloso And Maria Bethânia
While the nominations highlight Africa’s growing influence in global music, Ghanaian fans are expressing disappointment that no homegrown artists made the cut this year. Nevertheless, the spotlight on African music continues to grow, signaling promising opportunities for Ghanaian musicians in future Grammy considerations.
