Ready to settle into something new? There’s fresh music in town, and SND LAB and Star Baba Jay are behind it.

Their new single, “For Your Love,” leans into an easy, mid-tempo sound that sits between contemporary Afrobeats and R&B. From the first few seconds, the track keeps things measured, with SND LAB setting the pace through a steady rhythm and layered instrumentation that unfolds gently as the song progresses.

Star Baba Jay carries the song with a vocal delivery that feels close and intentional. He sings about devotion and emotional openness, taking his time with the lyrics and letting the story lead. Nothing feels rushed here; instead, the track allows space for feeling and reflection.

While rooted in African rhythms, “For Your Love” travels easily beyond borders. It’s the kind of song that fits late-night listening, quiet drives, or moments when you want something familiar but new. The collaboration points to a shared creative direction built on clarity and mood rather than excess.

Listen below

The post SND LAB and Star Baba Jay Are Setting the Mood With “For Your Love” appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are officially around the corner, and for us in the motherland, Sunday, 1st February 2026, is the only date that matters. While the world watches the “Big Four,” we have our eyes firmly fixed on the Best African Music Performance category. It is more than just an award; it is a celebration of the sounds that have moved from our local streets to the global stage.

This year’s “Big 5” contenders are a perfect mix of seasoned giants and the “new school” leaders who are currently holding the world in a chokehold. Here is everything you need to know about the songs and the stars vying for that golden gramophone.

Gimme Dat – Ayra Starr Featuring Wizkid

The “Celestial Being” and the “Starboy” teamed up once again for “Gimme Dat,” and the results were pure magic. Released on 25th April 2025, the song samples the iconic “911” by Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige, blending jazzy reggae beats with sultry Afrobeats rhythms. It’s a confident, sensual track where Ayra lists exactly what she needs in a lover—peace of mind and 100% commitment—while Wizkid delivers a breezy, seasoned verse.

Ayra Starr’s journey has been nothing short of meteoric; after becoming the youngest Nigerian artist nominated for a Grammy last year, she returns with even more momentum. Wizkid, a Grammy winner himself for his contribution to Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl,” brings that veteran “Big Wiz” aura to the track, making this collaboration a formidable contender.

Love – Burna Boy

The “City Boy” himself is back in the Grammy conversation with “Love,” a standout track from his eighth studio album, “No Sign of Weakness,” released on 10th July 2025. Produced by Dre Skull, the song is a beautiful, introspective Afro-fusion piece that explores themes of loyalty, self-protection, and genuine devotion. It’s Burna Boy at his most vulnerable, trading his usual high-energy “pon di beats” for a mid-tempo, soulful reflection on who truly stands by you when the lights go out.

Burna is no stranger to the Recording Academy; this nomination brings his career total to a staggering 13 nods over seven consecutive years. Having already won Best Global Music Album in 2021 for “Twice as Tall,” he enters this race as a heavyweight veteran.

With You – Davido Featuring Omah Lay

Released on 18th April 2025 as a highlight of Davido’s fifth studio album, “5ive,” the track is a masterclass in modern Highlife. Inspired by Bright Chimezie’s 1984 hit “Because of English,” the song features a repeating guitar loop and an easy, flirtatious charm that is hard to resist. Davido actually considered scrapping the song initially, but we are so glad he didn’t.

Omah Lay’s aching delivery pairs perfectly with Davido’s tender performance, making this a fan favourite. The nomination builds on Davido’s growing Grammy momentum after his historic three-nomination run last year, while for Omah Lay, it’s another well-earned nod that reinforces his place as one of the genre’s most distinctive voices.

PUSH 2 START – Tyla

After making history as the inaugural winner of this category 2024 with “Water,” South African sensation Tyla is looking for a back-to-back victory with “PUSH 2 START.”

Released on 11th October 2024 as part of her TYLA + deluxe album, the song uses car metaphors to navigate the thrills of attraction and commitment. It’s a flawless blend of Amapiano, Pop, and R&B that has already dominated the Billboard and UK Afrobeats charts.

Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin – Hope & Love

Adding a unique, cross-cultural flavour to the category is “Hope & Love,” a collaboration between Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Iranian artist Mehran Matin. Released on 13th August 2025, the song is an uplifting Afrobeat anthem designed to unite hearts across borders. Featuring the joyful energy of the Masaka Kids Africana, the track is a reminder that music is a universal language that shines brightest in the darkness.

Eddy Kenzo remains a pioneer for East African music on the global stage. This isn’t his first rodeo; he made history in 2023 as the first Ugandan artist to be nominated for a Grammy. His return to the category with Mehran Matin shows that his mission to “spread love” through music is far from over.

Did You Know?

The Best African Music Performance category is relatively new. It was created in June 2023 and first awarded in 2024 to recognise recordings that utilise unique local expressions from across the continent. The Recording Academy established this dedicated space to acknowledge the massive global impact of genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, Highlife, and Bongo Flava.

The post Burna Boy, Davido, Tyla, Ayra Starr & Eddy Kenzo: Meet the 2026 Grammy Best African Music Contenders appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Omawumi is in love, and this time it feels different. Her new visuals for “In Love” capture that feeling we’ve all hoped for, something rare and overwhelming in the best way.

The song already gave hints. She sings about heartbreak and near-misses, about holding on to hope even when love keeps slipping through your fingers. But with this one, she’s sure. “This kind of love is made in the movies,” she says.

Produced by Spellz and written by Benjamin Obadje and Omawumi herself, “In Love” is a celebration of healing, vulnerability, and the kind of affection that feels straight out of a movie.

Watch “In Love” below.

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Tiwa Savage’s new release, “You4Me,” is a slow-burning love song that lingers long after the last note. It’s giving “call your lover at midnight” vibes. It’s warm, it’s honest, and it feels like the kind of track you play when the lights are low and you’ve stopped pretending to be chill.

But if you’ve been following Tiwa for a while, you know she’s been in her soft era long before we started calling it that. Her love songs sound good and they feel like actual moments. The first kiss. The fight you didn’t see coming. The part where you stay anyway.

So if “You4Me” is currently living in your head, here are five other Tiwa love songs to put on repeat.

Add them to your playlist for soft nights, long texts, and hearts doing the absolute most.

Somebody’s Son

Love Me, Love Me, Love Me

All Over

Kele Kele

Ma Lo featuring Wizkid and Spellz

The post From “Kele Kele” to “You4Me”: 5 Tiwa Savage Love Songs We’ll Always Play on Repeat appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Grammy award-winning Afro-fusion icon Burna Boy continues to stretch the boundaries of sound and sentiment with “Sweet Love,” a reggae-tinged ballad that deepens the emotional spectrum of his forthcoming eighth studio album, No Sign of Weakness.

Arriving on the heels of the energetic Soul II Soul-sampling single “Update,” the new track signals a shift in mood. Introspective, sultry, and emotionally open, “Sweet Love” is a moment of tenderness from an artist known for his bold declarations of strength and swagger.

Produced by Major Seven, whose previous credits include work with Rihanna and Future, the song unfolds with the effortless sensuality of 1980s lovers rock, echoing the warmth and vulnerability of reggae greats like Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown. Over a plush, slow-burning groove, Burna Boy sings with a voice that’s as textured as it is heartfelt: “I want to give you love, sweet, sweet love,” he croons, letting the rasp of his tone carry the weight of desire, devotion, and longing.

“Sweet Love” helps position the forthcoming album as one of Burna Boy’s most emotionally layered projects yet. While his last release, 2023’s I Told Them…, leaned heavily into themes of legacy, cultural affirmation, and artistic authority, the new material feels looser, more personal, and in many ways more daring.

Like his genre-defying career, the artist’s latest single resists easy classification. There are flourishes of Afropop in the rhythmic structure, unmistakable reggae influences in the instrumentation, and echoes of the American soul, particularly the tortured passion of Otis Redding and James Brown, in his vocal delivery. But the fusion of these elements, bound together by Burna’s commanding presence, makes “Sweet Love” feel less like a throwback and more like a reimagining.

Burna Boy is set to take No Sign of Weakness on the road. His upcoming European tour starts in July, with confirmed dates in Berlin, London, and Helsinki. Additional shows are expected to be announced soon, continuing his trend of packing stadiums from Lagos to London, Johannesburg to Paris.

Listen to “Sweet Love”

Fresh from dropping “Update,” Burna Boy is back again, and this time, he’s tapping into something softer with his new single,“Sweet Love.”

This track is all about showing up for someone completely. Burna sings about wanting to protect the one he loves, get it right every time, and be there in all the ways that matter – emotionally, physically, and everything in between. He’s not just talking love; he’s promising the kind that stays consistent and real.

“Sweet Love” brings a slower groove and lyrics that speak to the kind of connection where you give your time, energy, and attention without holding back. It’s warm, a little vulnerable, and perfect for those late-night listens or weekend playlists with your person.

So, are you sending this song to someone special or keeping it on repeat for yourself?

Hit play below.

The post Burna Boy’s “Sweet Love” Is the Song You Send When Words Aren’t Enough appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ayra Starr didn’t need to say much. Just a “God damnnn” in the caption of her latest Instagram post, and it said it all. The vibe is cool and casual.

It’s the kind of outfit you’ll want to bookmark for your next casual hangout. She wears a light green bra top with a sheer panel that gives just the right amount of edge. Over it, she throws on an oversized blue-and-grey plaid shirt, the kind that feels like a thrift find or something borrowed and made completely her own. Paired with jeans, silver rings stacked on her fingers, a chunky gold cuff, a green-stone bracelet, and a shiny choker, every detail feels intentional.

Could this be a hint at a look from her upcoming collab with Wizkid? Maybe. Maybe not. But what we do know is Ayra just announced new music with him, and it’s coming soon, hot on the heels of her ‘All The Love’ video, where she served up a full dose of vintage flair with a modern twist.

See the photos below:

 

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The post Ayra Starr Just Gave Us the Perfect ‘Chill But Chic’ Look | See Photos appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

You’re probably still soaking in all the goodness from Ayra Starr’s latest music video ‘All the Love‘  and jamming to it non-stop too.

With its dreamy, vintage vibe, the video also had us wondering what went on behind the scenes.

Thankfully, London-based photographer Bettencourt shared a few stills from the shoot, which took place in South Africa — and they’re every bit as beautiful as the video itself.

In one photo, Ayra leans against a light blue vintage convertible on the beach, dressed in a red-and-white striped crop top and matching shorts. In another, she keeps it cool in a white tank top and frayed denim cut-offs. Then there’s a third look: a deconstructed yellow-and-cream outfit featuring a tie-front knit top and a layered skirt with soft tie-dye accents.

In each shot, Ayra is her own muse. Confident, stylish, and full of presence. Her short dark hair adds the perfect finishing touch.

Take a look at the photos below.

 

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A post shared by Bettencourt (@betttencourt)

The post The Stills from Ayra Starr’s ‘All the Love’ New Video Are a Whole Mood appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ready for some feel-good music video content? Ayra Starr has just dropped the visuals for her track  ‘All the Love‘  and it’s one to groove to.

The song is a tender ode to unconditional love. The kind you offer freely to someone who deserves it, even when the world falls short. With lyrics and soulful melodies, Ayra pledges to be that person who shows up with care, loyalty and one hundred percent real love. She acknowledges life’s chaos and the struggle to feel seen, but reminds us that authentic connection still exists. In a world of fakes and filters, ‘All the Love’ is about choosing sincerity, choosing presence, and choosing someone fully.

In the video, Ayra embodies this message beautifully. She’s carefree and open-hearted, the kind of girl who gives love generously and joyfully. It’s a visual that matches the song’s warmth and vulnerability, making you want to dance, hug someone, or send that sweet text you’ve been holding back.

Watch the video below and soak in all the love.

The post Need a Boost of Real Love? Ayra Starr’s ‘All the Love’ Video Got You Covered appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.