The nominees for the Best African Music Performance category at the 67th Grammy Awards have been unveiled, with Afrobeats stars Yemi Alade, Wizkid, Asake, Burna Boy, Tems, and Chris Brown featuring Davido & Lojay competing for the prestigious honor.
This marks the second year since the Recording Academy introduced the category, recognizing the global impact of African music. Last year, South African singer Tyla took home the inaugural award for her hit song Water, which blended Amapiano and Afropop influences.
As the 2025 Grammy Awards take center stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, fans eagerly await who will claim the title of Africa’s biggest music export at music’s biggest night.
The Nominees:
“Tomorrow” — Yemi Alade
Nigerian singer Yemi Alade celebrates her first solo Grammy nomination with Tomorrow, produced by Dee Yasso. Released in 2024, the song merges Nigerian and South African rhythms, delivering a powerful African identity in both sound and lyrics.
“MMS” — Asake & Wizkid
Afrobeats sensation Asake continues his meteoric rise with MMS, a standout track from his third studio album, Lungu Boy. The song, featuring Afrobeats heavyweight Wizkid, has captivated fans and is now in contention for the Best African Music Performance award.
“Sensational” — Chris Brown Featuring Davido & Lojay
This year’s nominations stirred debate with the inclusion of Chris Brown, an American R&B star, for his track Sensational. The song infuses Afrobeats elements and features Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay, making it a potential first for a non-African artist to win the category.
“Higher” — Burna Boy
Burna Boy, a Grammy veteran, returns with Higher, adding to his impressive Grammy nomination streak that spans six consecutive years. The ‘Twice as Tall’ crooner previously won the Best Global Music Album award in 2021 and topped the Billboard Year-End US Afrobeats Artists Chart in 2023.
“Love Me JeJe” — Tems
Tems, a previous Grammy winner, leads all African artists this year with three nominations across Best African Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best R&B Song. Her 2024 debut album, Born in the Wild, produced the hit Love Me JeJe, now in contention for Best African Music Performance.
As the countdown begins for the 67th Grammy Awards, all eyes are on Los Angeles set for February 3rd 2025 to see who will take home the trophy for Africa’s most prestigious music category!
