The 68th annual Grammy Awards were held Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with South African comedian Trevor Noah hosting the ceremony for the sixth consecutive time. Several wins came as a surprise to viewers, as many fan favorites failed to secure awards. Among those was Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category for his song “With You,” featuring Omah Lay. Other nominees in the category included Tyla’s “Push 2 Start,” Burna Boy’s “Love,” Arya Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love.”
Despite strong support from fans and industry observers, Davido lost the award to South African singer Tyla. The outcome sparked widespread reactions online, with many fans claiming the singer was unfairly overlooked. The loss marked Davido’s second Grammy defeat to Tyla, further fueling dissatisfaction among Nigerian fans.
Despite the disappointment, many supporters congratulated Davido on his nomination and praised his continued presence on the global music stage.
Businessman and club owner Obi Cubana went a step further, accusing the Grammy Awards of bias and suggesting that Davido’s refusal to conform cost him the award. He took to social media to express both frustration and support for the singer.
He wrote, “Oyibo dey do everything possible to break a strong man so he can do their demonic sh*t with them, but he will never do it. Heads up, brother. Open the bag and drop another hot one for us. E no dey finish, gbedu na water.”
Osun State Gov. Ademola Adeleke, Davido’s uncle and longtime supporter, also shared a message of encouragement online.
“Proud of you always @davido,” the governor wrote.
Davido responded warmly, saying, “Love u Excellency!!! We move accordingly, sir.”
Popular music producer Samklef also voiced his support, urging Davido to hold his head high and noting that the Grammy Awards do not define his impact or work ethic.
While the Grammy loss has reignited debates about representation and fairness within global award platforms, it has also highlighted Davido’s enduring influence in African and global music. With more than a decade of consistency, hit records and cultural impact, the singer’s legacy extends far beyond awards. As fans continue to rally behind him, Davido remains one of Africa’s most powerful musical exports, with his relevance and reach showing no signs of slowing down.
