The backlash that followed Tyla’s Grammy win has reignited debate over whether Afrobeats should continue to seek validation from the US-based awards as Nigeria’s music industry pushes for global authority.
Afrobeats fans in Nigeria were left disappointed on Sunday night after South African singer Tyla won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, defeating Nigerian nominees Davido, Burna Boy and Ayra Starr. The result triggered widespread backlash, with critics accusing the Recording Academy of prioritising US chart performance while continuing to promote Afrobeats as a global genre. The controversy unfolded during a ceremony that also celebrated international stars such as Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar, while Bad Bunny made history by winning Album of the Year with a Spanish-language project.
The Best African Music Performance category, announced before the main ceremony, once again became a flashpoint for Nigerian audiences who have closely followed the Grammys’ growing engagement with Afrobeats. This included high-profile performances and promotional events, such as Davido’s appearance at the Grammy Museum, which many fans believed signalled stronger recognition for Nigerian artists. Instead, the outcome reinforced long-standing suspicions about the criteria used to judge African music within a largely American framework.
Reacting to the result, Nigerian musician and producer Cobhams Asuquo questioned the value of the industry’s emotional and cultural investment in the awards, arguing that the Grammys benefit disproportionately from Nigerian attention. He said the Academy appears to be using Nigerian engagement to “boost the GDP of Los Angeles,” describing the recognition as “a carrot dangling in front of us,” and calling for the industry to build its own institutions. Asuquo added, “It’s only America that will do superbowl and be playing it themselves,” a comment that has further fuelled calls for Africa-led platforms to define excellence in Afrobeats on their own terms.