8 African Grammy Snubs 2026: Hits That Defined Culture But Missed Nominations
The Grammy Awards have made significant strides in recognizing African music in recent years, with the introduction of categories like Best African Music Performance marking a pivotal moment for continental representation on the global stage. However, as the 2026 nominations were announced, a familiar conversation emerged once again. While winning a Grammy is a prestigious achievement, it does not always align with the songs that truly define a year's cultural landscape.
The Cultural Impact Beyond Awards
Across Africa, music transcends mere chart positions and streaming statistics. Songs become the soundtrack to our Decembers, inspire social movements, dominate neighborhood gatherings, fuel viral TikTok challenges, and influence global listening trends. In 2025, several such impactful tracks did not receive Grammy nominations, despite their profound resonance. Here are eight African songs that, regardless of award recognition, captured moments, moods, and movements, earning their place in the cultural conversation.
1. Shallipopi - 'Laho'
Shallipopi's ascent represents one of the most compelling narratives in contemporary Nigerian music, with Laho serving as its cornerstone. The track features minimalist production and a distinctive talk-singing delivery that feels authentically local. Eschewing overproduction and forced hooks, it thrives on pure vibe. While award committees often favor polished perfection, Laho celebrated raw authenticity, encapsulating the unfiltered essence of Lagos and Benin City streets. Its global domination on TikTok throughout 2025 underscored its widespread appeal.
2. Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng & Silent Addy - 'Shake It To The Max (Fly)' Remix
This remix transformed a viral dance record into an international sensation, climbing the Billboard Global 200, featuring on Spotify and TikTok's Songs of Summer lists, and amassing hundreds of millions of streams and views. It also marked a historic moment by making Moliy the first Ghanaian artist to perform at the BET Awards. Unfortunately, a technical rule regarding remixes prevented its nomination, a decision that many found disappointing.
3. Jazzworx, Thukuthela & MaWhoo - 'Uzizwa Kanjani'
While Amapiano is frequently categorized as club music, Uzizwa Kanjani showcases the genre's softer, more refined dimension. MaWhoo's stunning and controlled vocal performance highlights the sophistication achievable in African electronic music. If the Grammys aim to honor artistic merit beyond mere virality, this track presented a compelling case for recognition.
4. Ayra Starr - 'Hot Body'
Ayra Starr enjoyed a monumental year on the global stage, and Hot Body seamlessly extended that momentum. Confident, catchy, and self-assured, the song epitomizes the type of record the Best African Music Performance category was designed to celebrate. Released in July 2025, it gained steady traction, ignited across the latter half of the year, and even featured in her performances during the Coldplay tour. It represents a new era of African pop stars embracing their authentic sound without compromise.
5. Chella - 'My Darling'
This track emerged as a viral favorite, but beyond its impressive metrics, trends, and streams, it stands as a well-crafted Afro-fusion ballad that embraces simplicity and sincerity. These are qualities the Grammys traditionally celebrate, making its absence from the nominations particularly noticeable.
6. Gyakie - 'Sankofa'
Gyakie has consistently demonstrated a deep musical identity, and Sankofa feels like her most deliberate work to date. Drawing from Highlife traditions while maintaining a contemporary edge, the song truly lives up to its name—looking backward to move forward. The Grammys have a history of rewarding music that honors heritage while innovating sound, and Sankofa accomplished precisely that, serving as a powerful testament to Ghanaian musical excellence.
7. Ciza feat. Jazzworx, Thukuthela, Omah Lay & Tems - 'Isaka II (6 am)'
This remix revitalized the original song, with Omah Lay's moody aesthetic and Tems' unmistakable vocal presence elevating Isaka II (6 am) to new heights. It flourished on TikTok, sparked numerous trends, and demonstrated the expansive reach of African music across borders and genres.
8. Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago - 'Hey Jago'
Street-hop has often posed categorization challenges for award bodies, but Hey Jago was impossible to overlook. Driven by Poco Lee's cultural influence, the song evolved into a full-fledged movement. High-energy, rhythmically compelling, and deeply embedded in street culture, it captured the essence of African performance music when it engages communities beyond mere playlist curation.
Celebrating Nominated Works While Acknowledging Omissions
It is important to emphasize that the songs that did receive nominations, such as Burna Boy's Love, Davido and Omah Lay's With You, and Tyla's PUSH 2 START, undoubtedly earned their accolades. This analysis is not intended to diminish their achievements but rather to highlight the vast, layered, and ever-evolving nature of African music. Sometimes, the most culturally significant tracks do not align perfectly with award criteria, yet they undeniably define the year. Perhaps this underscores the need for more inclusive categories that better reflect the continent's diverse musical landscape.
