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Author: Chioma Ugo Nwachukwu

  • Shakira submits Burna Boy collaboration “Dai Dai” for 2027 Grammys

    Shakira submits Burna Boy collaboration “Dai Dai” for 2027 Grammys

    Colombian singer Shakira has submitted six entries for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, including “Dai Dai,” her collaboration with Nigerian singer Burna Boy, according to a list shared by The Grammy Guru and published by Showbiz by PS.

    “Dai Dai,” released as an official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Global Music Performance and Best Music Video. The song blends Afrobeats with Caribbean influences and features vocals from both artists. Shakira previously said she waited about 20 days for Burna Boy to deliver his verse before completing the track.

    Burna Boy and Shakira perform “Dai Dai” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony

    Shakira also submitted “Zoo” for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Music Video. “Choka Choka” was entered for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Music Video.

    Her “Hips Don’t Lie (Anniversary Edition),” featuring Ed Sheeran and Beéle, was submitted for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. “Algo Tú” was entered for Best Latin Song, while the Clean Bandit remix of “Dai Dai” was submitted for Best Remixed Recording.

    “Dai Dai” has also performed strongly in Germany, where it spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the official singles chart, according to Sony Music Germany. The label reported in October that the track had earned a Gold certification in the country.

    These are submissions for consideration, not confirmed Grammy nominations. The Recording Academy’s first-round voting runs from October 12 to 22, with nominees for the 2027 awards scheduled to be announced on November 16. The ceremony will take place on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles.

  • Davido submits “Oriadé” and four songs for 2027 Grammy consideration

    Davido submits “Oriadé” and four songs for 2027 Grammy consideration

    Nigerian singer Davido has submitted his album “Oriadé” and four songs for consideration in multiple categories at the 2027 Grammy Awards, according to a list shared by The Grammy Guru.

    “Oriadé,” released on July 31, 2026, was submitted for Album of the Year, Best Global Music Album, Best Engineered Album and Best Album Cover. The 13-track album draws on Afrobeats and other influences, with songs including “B4 B4,” featuring Mayorkun and FOLA, and “Nakupenda.”

    Davido/Oriadé

    “B4 B4” was submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best African Music Performance. “Nakupenda” was submitted for Song of the Year and Best African Music Performance, while “Le Show” was entered in the Best African Music Performance category. “I Know Who I Be” was submitted for Best Music Video.

    These entries are submissions for consideration, not confirmed nominations. According to the Recording Academy, submissions are reviewed for eligibility before voting members determine the nominees. The 2027 Grammy nominations are scheduled to be announced on November 16, 2026, ahead of the ceremony on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles.

  • Tems submits Justin Bieber and Dave collaborations for 2027 Grammys

    Tems submits Justin Bieber and Dave collaborations for 2027 Grammys

    Nigerian singer Tems has submitted her EP “Love Is a Kingdom” and four songs for consideration in multiple categories at the 2027 Grammy Awards, according to a list shared by The Grammy Guru.

    Tems and Justin Bieber perform at Coachella 2026

    The submissions include “I Think You’re Special,” her collaboration with Justin Bieber, and “Raindance,” featuring British rapper Dave.

    “Love Is a Kingdom” was submitted for Album of the Year, Best Global Music Album, Best Engineered Album and Best Album Cover. “Raindance” was submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video.

    Her song “What You Need” was submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Solo Performance, Best R&B Song and Best Music Video. “Big Daddy” was submitted for Best African Music Performance, while “I Think You’re Special,” featuring Justin Bieber, was submitted for Best R&B Duo/Group Performance.

    Tems and Dave for their collaboration “Raindance”

    These are submissions for consideration, not confirmed Grammy nominations. The Recording Academy’s first-round voting runs from October 12 to 22, with nominees for the 2027 awards scheduled to be announced on November 16. The ceremony will take place on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles.

  • Temidayo Balogun and AKÉDE release new album “Afrolution”

    Temidayo Balogun and AKÉDE release new album “Afrolution”

    Temidayo Balogun and AKÉDE released their album “Afrolution” on July 3, 2026, through BTmA Records. The project explores African political thought, Pan-Africanism and the relationship between African musical traditions and jazz.

    The album’s title is derived from “Afro-centric Solution,” a concept centred on addressing Africa’s challenges through ideas and approaches rooted in African perspectives and experiences. Its themes include self-determination, collective responsibility and the legacy of colonialism, drawing on the Pan-African ideas of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.

    Across the project, the music incorporates African traditions, jazz and political commentary. “Ori I: Concept of Democracy” draws on Yoruba cosmology and the concept of Ori, which refers to an individual’s inner essence or destiny. Its companion piece, “Ori II,” continues the exploration of personal agency and the role of individual conviction in social change.

    “Òṣùṣù Ọwọ̀,” which translates to a bound broom, uses Yoruba percussion instruments including dùndún, omele, agogo and sekere. The composition draws on Yoruba rhythmic structures and language to explore unity and collective strength.

    Other tracks address African political history and activism. “African Revolution” incorporates a musical motif derived from elements of South Africa’s national anthem, while “ttowgfuth – Jan 17th 1961” references Patrice Lumumba, the Congolese independence leader assassinated on January 17, 1961. “Struggle Continues” commemorates the 2020 #EndSARS protests and connects the movement to the album’s wider themes of political change and African self-determination.

    “Afrolution” is available on streaming platforms.

  • Joyceamara releases new single “Omo, I Don Blow”

    Joyceamara releases new single “Omo, I Don Blow”

    Independent artist Joyceamara released “Omo, I Don Blow” on October 2, 2026. The Afrobeats and Afropop track explores gratitude, personal progress and the experience of achieving something once hoped for.

    The song centres on a breakthrough after a period of effort and prayer. Its lyrics include the lines, “My enemies dey wonder, ‘Wetin happen?’ / I tell dem, ‘Na God, no be connection,’” framing the artist’s success as a result of faith rather than personal connections.

    Released through Joyceamara Music, the track combines rhythmic Afrobeats production with melodic vocals. Joyceamara’s music draws on Afrobeats, Afropop, Afro-fusion and R&B, with themes including ambition, love and resilience.

    “Omo I Don Blow” is available on streaming platforms.

  • Samamii releases new single “Closer”

    Samamii releases new single “Closer”

    Emerging artist Samamii released “Closer” on August 21, 2026. The Afrobeats and R&B-influenced track explores the desire to be near someone you love, regardless of distance.

    Running for two minutes and 25 seconds, the song combines melodic vocals with an Afrobeats groove. Its lyrics focus on attraction, chemistry and wanting to move closer to someone.

    Samamii also launched a creator challenge around the release, inviting dancers, actors, comedians and other creators to interpret the song through their own content.

    “Closer” is available on streaming platforms.

  • Ayra Starr announces Starrgirl World Tour across Africa, Europe and North America

    Ayra Starr announces Starrgirl World Tour across Africa, Europe and North America

    Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has announced the Starrgirl World Tour, with shows planned across Africa, Europe and North America between December 2026 and April 2027. The tour follows the release of her third studio album, Starrgirl, which arrived in August 2026 through Mavin Records and Republic Records.

    The announced itinerary begins in Africa in December before moving to Europe in January 2027. The European and UK leg is scheduled to open in Cologne, Germany, on January 20, with further stops listed for Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Zurich, Brussels and London before concluding on February 2.

    Ayra is then scheduled to begin the North American leg on March 18 in Houston, Texas. Other listed cities include Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and San Francisco, where the run is expected to end on April 14.

    Ticketmaster has listed a Brussels date for January 31, 2027, under the tour name “Starr Girl Tour,” with Live Nation Belgium named as promoter.

    The tour extends the Starrgirl era, following an album featuring collaborations with ZAYN, Wizkid, Rema, Leon Thomas, kwn, Danny Ocean and Theodora.

  • NO11 submits “HOW FAR” for Best African Music Performance at 2027 Grammys

    NO11 submits “HOW FAR” for Best African Music Performance at 2027 Grammys

    NO11 has submitted “HOW FAR,” featuring Ayjay Bobo and Monochrome, for consideration in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2027 Grammy Awards. Released in January 2026, the song gained traction on social media and reached No. 8 on the Official Nigeria Top 100, according to TurnTable Charts.

    The track became associated with the emerging “nepopiano” wave, a term combining “nepo baby” and Amapiano to describe music linked to young artists from privileged or well-connected backgrounds. “HOW FAR” gained attention through TikTok snippets before reaching streaming charts, helping bring NO11 to a wider audience.

    NO11 later released a remix of “HOW FAR” on March 3, 2026, featuring South African artists Focalistic and CIZA alongside Nigerian artists Famous Pluto and Ayjay Bobo. The remix brought together artists from Nigeria and South Africa, combining their contributions on a new version of the track. An official music video followed later that month.

    The Grammy submission is for consideration, not a confirmed nomination. The Recording Academy’s first-round voting determines the nominees, who are scheduled to be announced on November 16, 2026. The 2027 Grammy Awards will take place on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles.

  • Ghanaian artist HomeSenseMatty releases new song “Brayɛnsa”

    Ghanaian artist HomeSenseMatty releases new song “Brayɛnsa”

    Ghanaian artist HomeSenseMatty has released a new song, “Brayɛnsa.”

    The release follows his previous songs, “Hamme Vibe,” “Sa (Dance)” and “How Are You.”

    The song is available on streaming platforms.

  • Keriah releases new single “Mother Sea – Zi44 Moody House Mix”

    Keriah releases new single “Mother Sea – Zi44 Moody House Mix”

    Keriah has released “Mother Sea – Zi44 Moody House Mix,” a house track shaped by atmospheric textures and electronic production.

    Keriah is an international music project involving musicians based in different parts of the world. Its catalogue draws on a range of musical styles and influences rather than following a single genre.

    The project’s studio is based in Dresden, Germany, where its music is mixed and mastered. Keriah also uses analogue synthesizers from the 1980s to achieve the sound it seeks in its productions.

    “Mother Sea – Zi44 Moody House Mix” is available on streaming platforms.