The 2026 Grammy Awards have placed African music firmly at the center of global attention, with top stars like Burna Boy, Tyla, and Ayra Starr among this year’s nominees. The Recording Academy announced the nominations on Thursday, ahead of the February 1 ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
However, Kenyan musicians found themselves noticeably absent from the final nominated list , a signal of both the progress still to be made and the steps already underway.
Kenya’s hope for a GRAMMY
Kenyan artists are not entirely outside the Grammy orbit. For instance, Fena Gitu made headlines in October when her songs “Pretty Girl” and “Repeat” were submitted for 2026 Grammy consideration in categories such as Best Melodic Rap Performance and Song of the Year. Meanwhile, Savara, a member of celebrated Kenyan group Sauti Sol, received consideration for Best African Music Performance and Best Global Music Performance for his solo work “Sianda” and “Show You Off.”
These “considerations” indicate that Kenyan musicians are in the broader Grammy ecosystem, even if they have not yet crossed over into full nominations. The growing presence of African artists at the Grammys mirrors the Recording Academy’s efforts to diversify and globalize its membership, giving greater space to musicians whose work reflects the sound and soul of a connected world.
African Nominations Breakdown
In the Best African Music Performance category, Burna Boy’s “Love” joins Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s upbeat “Gimme Dat,” Tyla’s “Push 2 Start,” and Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo with Mehran Matin on “Hope & Love.” The category once again highlights the depth and diversity of Africa’s musical creativity.
Elsewhere, Angélique Kidjo earned another nod in the Best Global Music Performance category for “Jerusalema,” while Burna Boy extended his record with another Best Global Music Album nomination for No Sign of Weakness, marking his 11th career nomination.
Shaboozey, the Nigerian-American breakout country artist, also made history with nominations for Best Country Solo Performance (“Good News”) and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Amen” featuring Jelly Roll).
Whats next for Kenya and the GRAMMY?
The fact remains: No Kenyan artist features among the 2026 nominees. Music experts believe that with stronger marketing, strategic collaborations and international visibility, Kenya’s long-awaited breakthrough at the GRAMMYs could soon become reality.
For Kenyan artists, the message is clear: the talent and ambition are present. The next step is getting visible, getting heard, and getting nominated. With Kenyan music thriving domestically and regionally, the hope is that the next big African wave will include stars from Nairobi as well.
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