The 2026 Grammys may be over, but as is often the case after major award ceremonies, the conversations continue. Who won, who should have won, and what the results say about the industry at large. Nigerian DJ and music executive DJ Big N has now added his voice to the discourse, reacting to the absence of Nigerian winners at this year’s ceremony.
The DJ, who is signed to Mavin Records, took to X to share his thoughts in a series of tweets expressing disappointment at the outcome. This year, despite Nigerian nominations in the Best African Music Performance category for Burna Boy, Davido featuring Omah Lay, and Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid, as well as a Best Global Music Album nomination for Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, no Nigerian artist went home with an award.
Best African Music Performance was won by Tyla, while Best Global Music Album went to Brazilian music legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia.
In one tweet, DJ Big N wrote:
“Even without a Nigerian win for Best Afrobeat Song of the Year, the sound’s foundation remains clear. Afrobeat lives because Nigeria built it, and that legacy isn’t up for debate.”
However, several commenters were quick to point out that the category in question is Best African Music Performance, not an Afrobeats-specific award. As such, the argument is somewhat misplaced, given that the category is continental in scope rather than genre- or country-specific.
Still, DJ Big N’s frustration reflects the mood of many Nigerian music fans and industry observers, particularly considering the stature of the nominees involved. He went on to suggest a possible solution, stating that “we need more of us, Nigerian music creatives and execs, to join the Recording Academy” in order to help shape outcomes from within.
There are already Nigerians serving as voting members of the Recording Academy, including Oxlade, Jaywon, Bizzle Osikoya, and Davido, among others. But whether adding more Nigerian voting members would materially change Grammy outcomes is debatable. Becoming a voting member is not automatic. It involves a formal entry process that includes peer recommendations and verification of professional credits, according to the official Recording Academy page.
More importantly, Grammy voting is based on craft, execution, and artistic merit, not nationality. The winners in the categories Nigerians were nominated for most likely prevailed because they received the highest number of votes, not because of regional or political considerations.
That said, DJ Big N is not entirely wrong. Increased Nigerian representation within global music institutions can be beneficial, even if it does not guarantee wins. Representation broadens perspective and participation, though it does not override the fundamental mechanics of the voting process.
No Nigerian artist won a Grammy this year. But awards aside, Nigerian music continues to dominate charts, shape global sounds, and command international audiences. Grammy recognition may come and go, but the industry’s cultural and commercial impact remains firmly intact.
