While South Africa’s Tyla celebrated her second Grammy victory on Monday, Nigerian Afrobeats giant Davido faced yet another crushing defeat in his quest for that elusive golden gramophone trophy.
The “Fall” hitmaker’s track With You featuring Omah Lay was beaten by Tyla’s Push 2 Start in the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards – marking another chapter in what’s becoming one of African music’s most frustrating Grammy sagas.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Davido’s Grammy Drought
At 33 years old, Davido (born David Adedeji Adeleke) has now accumulated multiple Grammy nominations across different years without a single win.
This latest loss stings particularly hard given the commercial success and critical acclaim With You received throughout 2025.
What makes this loss more painful:
- The track dominated African charts for consecutive weeks
- Featured collaboration with rising star Omah Lay
- Showcased Davido’s vocal maturity and production evolution
- Was considered the frontrunner by many industry insiders
Who Else Lost to Tyla’s Grammy Dominance?
Davido wasn’t alone in his disappointment. The 24-year-old South African superstar defeated an impressive lineup:
- Burna Boy – Love (already a multiple Grammy winner)
- Davido ft. Omah Lay – With You
- Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin – Hope & Love
- Ayra Starr ft. Wizkid – Gimme Dat
The Burna Boy Factor: Why Some Win and Others Don’t
The comparison to fellow Nigerian superstar Burna Boy – who has multiple Grammys – adds salt to Davido’s wounds.
Music critics have begun analyzing what separates Grammy winners from nominees in the African music space.
Key differences identified:
- Genre fusion approach – Grammy voters seem to favor artists blending traditional African sounds with global pop elements
- International crossover appeal – Tyla’s TikTok virality and streaming numbers in Western markets
- Vocal presentation – How artists adapt African music for international audiences
- Strategic collaborations – Tyla’s Sean Paul remix vs. regional African features
“With You” Deserved Better: What Critics Are Saying
Despite the loss, music journalists and fans argue that With You represented some of Davido’s finest work:
“The production quality, the chemistry with Omah Lay, the melodic structure – this was Grammy-worthy material by every metric,” noted one African music critic.
The track’s Afrobeats foundation combined with contemporary R&B influences created what many called a “perfect Grammy submission” – yet it wasn’t enough.
The Bigger Picture: Nigeria vs. South Africa at the Grammys
This loss highlights an emerging narrative: South African artists are outperforming Nigerian counterparts at recent Grammy ceremonies, despite Nigeria’s dominant position in the global Afrobeats movement.
Recent South African Grammy winners:
- Tyla (2024, 2026)
- Black Coffee (multiple wins)
- Zakes Bantwini (2023)
- Nomcebo Zikode (2023)
Nigerian Grammy drought concerns:
- Wizkid: Limited wins despite massive influence
- Davido: Zero wins despite multiple nominations
- Tiwa: No wins
- Ayra Starr: Lost this year despite Wizkid feature
Social Media Erupts: Fans Demand Answers
Following the Grammy results, Nigerian Twitter (X) exploded with frustration:
“How many times will Davido be nominated before they give him what he deserves?” one viral tweet read, accumulating over 50,000 likes within hours.
Fan theories range from voting bloc politics to genre bias to strategic marketing failures by Nigerian artists’ teams.
What Davido Said (Or Didn’t Say)
As of press time, Davido has not publicly commented on the loss. However, sources close to the artist suggest he’s “disappointed but determined” to continue creating music that resonates with his African audience – Grammy or no Grammy.
His silence stands in stark contrast to previous years when he’s been vocal about Grammy nomination excitement.
The Omah Lay Angle: Rising Star Also Denied
For featured artist Omah Lay, this represented his first Grammy nomination – making the loss perhaps more bearable but still significant.
The young Nigerian singer has been on an upward trajectory, and a Grammy win could have catapulted him into the next tier of African superstars.
Does Davido Even Need a Grammy?
This question is increasingly being asked by fans and industry observers. With:
- Sold-out stadium tours across Africa
- Millions in streaming revenue
- Endorsement deals worth tens of millions
- Cultural influence across the continent
Does Grammy validation really matter?
Yet for artists of Davido’s caliber, a Grammy represents Western institutional recognition – a stamp of approval that opens doors to collaborations, festival headlining slots, and legacy-building opportunities.
What’s Next for the OBO?
Industry insiders suggest Davido may need to recalibrate his Grammy strategy:
- Pursue more international collaborations with established Grammy winners
- Target different Grammy categories beyond African Music Performance
- Consider genre experimentation that appeals to broader Recording Academy demographics
- Invest in Grammy campaign strategists – yes, this is a real thing
The Controversy: Is the Category Even Fair?
Some critics argue that lumping all African music into one category creates an impossible competition where artistic diversity is pitted against itself rather than celebrated.
Amapiano vs. Afrobeats vs. Afro-fusion vs. traditional sounds – how can one song represent “best” when they’re fundamentally different genres?
The Uncomfortable Truth
Perhaps the hardest pill to swallow: Tyla achieved in 2 years what Davido hasn’t in over a decade of Grammy eligibility.
Her Water win in 2024 at age 22, followed by Push 2 Start in 2026, suggests a formula that works with current Grammy voters.
That formula appears to be: viral global appeal + genre fusion + strategic Western market penetration + youth demographic dominance.
Fan Message to Davido: “We Still Believe”
Despite the loss, Davido’s fanbase – the 30BG (30 Billion Gang) – has rallied with messages of support, trending hashtags, and renewed streaming efforts for his catalog.
“Grammy doesn’t define greatness,” one fan account posted. “Davido is already a legend in African music history.”
But will that be enough for the artist himself?
Looking Ahead: Grammy 2027?
With new music reportedly in the works and potential collaborations being negotiated, Davido has another shot.
The question is: will he adjust his approach, or continue making music for his African audience and hope Grammy voters eventually catch up?
One thing is certain: Until Davido holds that Grammy trophy, the conversation about his legacy will always include the caveat – “despite never winning a Grammy.”
