The 68th Annual Grammy Awards may have drawn to a close, but the historic wins from the night are still reverberating across the global stage. Amongst the most significant highlights was the triumph of Nigerian-American sensation Shaboozey, who solidified his place in music history with a major win.

The artist, born Collins Obinna Chibueze, took home the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the faith-inspired anthem “Amen“, a collaboration with Jelly Roll. It was a milestone moment for the singer, marking his first-ever Grammy trophy and a defining achievement for a talent who has successfully bridged the worlds of country, hip-hop, and his West African heritage.

Taking to Instagram to share his joy, Shaboozey posted a series of celebratory photos, including one showing off his dental grill while clutching his golden gramophone. He accompanied the post with a deeply personal caption:

I won my first Grammy yesterday, and I can say so far I don’t think anything will beat the feeling. I’ve experienced every wave of emotion!! Real tears yall. Thank you @recordingacademy for giving this Virginia boy and child of an immigrant a Grammy!

The emotion of the night was palpable during his acceptance speech at the Peacock Theater. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he shared that his mother had retired from her nursing career of 30 years that very same day—a career she worked across multiple jobs to support him and his four siblings. He broadened the dedication to the immigrant community at large, delivering a moving message:

“This is for all children of immigrants. This is also for those who came to this country in search of a better opportunity… Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your tradition here. You give America colour. Immigrants built this country, literally.”

If you’re wondering who Shaboozey is, here are five fun facts you should know about him:

• That Iconic Name: His stage name is a play on his Nigerian surname, Chibueze, which means “God is King”. It originated from a high school football coach who struggled with the pronunciation.
• Naija Boarding School Days: Although born in northern Virginia, he spent two years attending boarding school in Nigeria during his junior high years—an experience he credits for his multicultural perspective.
• The Igbo Heritage: He is of Igbo descent and has often spoken about the sacrifices his parents made when they moved from Nigeria to the United States to provide a better future for their family.
• Chart-Topping History: He made history as the first Black male artist to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs chart simultaneously with the global smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
• A Beyoncé Favourite: Before his solo Grammy win, he gained massive acclaim for his standout features on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, appearing on tracks like “Spaghettii” and “Sweet Honey Buckiin’.”

 

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The post “Real Tears!” Shaboozey Wins His First Grammy and Shares a Heartfelt Tribute to His Immigrant Roots appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles was a weekend of high emotions, historic firsts, and a reminder of Africa’s influence on the global stage. While many of our favourites were in the building, the weekend belonged to those who broke new ground and carried the culture with pride.

The weekend kicked off on a legendary note as the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti became the first African artist to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy. During the Special Merit Awards on Saturday, his children—Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa, and Femi Kuti—accepted the honour on his behalf. Yeni shared a touching moment, saying, “I’m sure my father is smiling down on us,” as they celebrated the Afrobeat pioneer’s monumental legacy.

On Sunday night, the celebrations moved to the Crypto.com Arena, where South Africa’s Tyla officially became a two-time Grammy winner. She clinched the award for Best African Music Performance for her single “Push 2 Start,” marking her second win in the category since its 2024 debut. It was a tightly contested category, with Tyla edging out an incredible lineup of talent: Burna Boy (“Love”), Davido featuring Omah Lay (“With You”), Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid (“Gimme Dat”), and Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin (“Hope & Love”).

Nigerian-American sensation Shaboozey also had a massive night, winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the hit “Amen“ alongside Jelly Roll. In an emotional acceptance speech, Shaboozey, who is of Igbo-Nigerian descent, paid tribute to his mother and addressed the current climate in the United States, reminding the audience that “immigrants literally built this country.”

While Angélique Kidjo, Burna Boy, and Youssou N’dour didn’t take home trophies in their respective categories this year, the presence of African excellence was felt in every corner of the room.

The post Every African Artist Who Won at the 68th Grammy Awards appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

The nominations for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards are officially here, and it is a massive moment for African music on the global stage. Set to take place live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, 26 March, the ceremony will celebrate the most-played songs and artists from the past year while giving us a look at what is coming next.

This year, the spotlight is firmly on our very own stars. Ayra Starr, Tyla, and Moliy have all secured spots in the “World Artist of the Year” category. They are joined in that category by global heavyweights Jackson Wang and JO1.

Ghanaian breakout star Moliy is having a particularly historic run. She has become the most-nominated African artist at this year’s awards with three major nods. Aside from “World Artist of the Year,” she is up for “Best New Artist (Hip-Hop)” and “Best Music Video” for the remix of her hit, Shake It to the Max (FLY). The track, which features Shenseea, Skillibeng, and Silent Addy, became a global fixture in 2025, topping the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats chart and becoming the most Shazamed song of the year.

The nominations also feature big names like Taylor Swift, who leads with nine nominations, followed closely by Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, and Alex Warren. Shaboozey is also in the mix with nominations for “Song of the Year” and “Country Song of the Year” for his hit “Good News.”

For the fans, there is plenty of room to get involved. Several categories are socially voted, including “Best Music Video,” where you can support Moliy’s collaboration. Voting is open now and will run until 19 March, giving everyone a chance to help decide who takes home the trophy in Los Angeles this March.

See the full list of nominees below:

The post Ayra Starr, Tyla, Moliy and Shaboozey Nominated for 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

If you’ve been counting down to “No Sign of Weakness,” Burna Boy’s upcoming album, then you’ll love this newest release.

Just days before the full album drops on Friday, July 11, Burna Boy has shared his third single off the project, “Change Your Mind” featuring Shaboozey.

While the first two singles — “TaTaTa” with Travis Scott and “Update” — gave us fiery rhythms and flex-worthy bars, “Change Your Mind” slows things down and peels back the layers. Burna and Shaboozey come together to deliver a track that feels more like a confession than a performance.

The lyrics tell the story of someone who knows they’ve caused pain but is still standing at the door, asking for one more shot. “I know I broke your heart, left you in the dark… I’m hoping I can change your mind.” It’s a line that lingers, because we’ve all been there, trying to fix what we broke, hoping love is still somewhere in the ruins.

Shaboozey opens with vulnerability, singing about the distance caused by life on the road. Burna Boy follows with quiet honesty, admitting to walking “a thousand miles” alone in search of the right words.

And if this is a taste of what “No Sign of Weakness“ has in store, there’s every reason to stay locked in for the full release this Friday. Until then, “Change Your Mind” is on repeat.

The post Burna Boy & Shaboozey Get Honest About Love and Regret in ‘Change Your Mind'” appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Burna Boy is ramping things up ahead of the release of his eighth studio album, No Sign of Weakness, due July 11 via Bad Habit/Atlantic Records.

The African Giant has now shared the full tracklist for the forthcoming album, which reveals an eye-catching range of guests across its 16 songs.

Perhaps the most surprising and notable of them is rock legend and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who will appear on the album’s eleventh track, “Empty Chairs.”

Another noteworthy guest is Belgian pop star Stromae, who shares track billing on No Sign of Weakness track “Pardon.” Stromae has strong ties to the African continent through his Rwandan family background, and notably concluded one of his world tours in Kigali.

American breakout star Shaboozey (who has Nigerian roots) will appear on a track titled “Change Your Mind,” and we’ve already heard the Travis Scott-featuring single “TaTaTa.”

So far, Burna Boy has shared album tracks “Sweet Love,” “Update,” “Bundle by Bundle,” and “TaTaTa.” He’s also announced an upcoming North American tour in support of the album.

See the full tracklist for Burna Boy’s new album below.

Burna Boy's ‘No Sign of Weakness’ Official Tracklist

1. No Panic
2. No Sign Of Weakness
3. Buy You Life
4. Love
5. TaTaTa feat. Travis Scott
6. Come Gimme
7. Dem Dey
8. Sweet Love
9. 28 Grams
10. Kabiyesi
11. Empty Chairs feat. Mick Jagger
12. Update
13. Pardon with Stromae
14. Bundle By Bundle
15. Change Your Mind feat. Shaboozey
16. Born Winner

At the 2025 BET Awards, the cultural was in direct conversation with the political. Amidst ongoing anti-ICE protests taking over the streets of Los Angeles and a stringent anti-immigration policy, this year's BET Awards ceremony found a way to be memorable while speaking directly to the uncertainty of the moment.

The evening featured memorable performances, unforgettable award acceptance speeches, and, best of all, stunning red carpet looks. Anchoring different parts of the exciting evening were African superstars from across the globe. Nigeria's Ayra Starr took home the award for Best International Act, a category previously won by Tyla, Tems, and Burna Boy.

Ghanaian rising star Moliy performed her hit single, "Shake It To The Max," at the pre-event stage, shutting it down with a vibrant crowd that cheered her on as they waved miniature Ghanaian flags. Meanwhile, British Sudanese artist Elmiene gave a soul-stirring performance on the main BET stage.

On the red carpet, the African stars in attendance kept their foot on the pedal, showing out in statement-making outfits. While some opted for cultural influences, others chose effortless glamour and even drew inspiration from early 2000s fashion. The looks were as diverse as the astounding range of talent emerging from the continent and onto the global stage.

Below are some of the memorable looks from African artists on the 2025 BET Awards red carpet.

Moliy

With the incredible year Moliy is having - scoring her second Billboard Hot 100 hit with the remix of her hit "Shake It To The Max" featuring Shensea and Skillberg, becoming the first Ghanaian artist to perform at the BET and the most streamed artist from Ghana at the moment - the shiny, gold dress she wore on the BET red carpet was completely illustrative of this moment in her life. A gold purse and a vibrant smile complemented the thin, strapped gown. With Moliy's momentum, it would be unsurprising to see her on next year's red carpet not just as a performer but as a nominee.

Swanky Jerry

Nigerian stylist and one of the memorable stars of the Netflix reality series "Young, Famous & African," Swanky Jerry, arrived on the BET red carpet in a blue deconstructed Agbada and turban. Jerry described the inspiration behind his outfit as "a quiet tribute to every Black dream stitched in silence, realized in color and celebrated on the carpet." Jerry's Agbada was a clear nod to the traditional Nigerian garb, which is typically worn at cultural or ceremonial events.

​Black Sherif

In baggy pants and a loose-fitting denim shirt, Ghanaian rapper Black Sherif, one of the nominees for this year's Best International Acts category, kept things clean and retro for his red carpet look. For accessories, the flag bearer of a new generation of Ghanaian rap went with minimalist silver chains and statement-making glasses.

Shaboozey

Nigerian American country artist Shaboozey combined his country music background with his Nigerian heritage. Shaboozey wore a custom Eleven Sixteen suit by Ugo Mozie. The suit featured black cowrie shells at the lapels and an eye-catching crocodile skin belt featuring miniature gold Benin bronzes. Cowrie shells also dotted the sleeves of the suit, which was topped off with a classic cowboy hat. Shaboozey was nominated under the Video of the Year and New Artist categories at this year's BET Awards.

Elmiene

British Sudanese artist Elmiene, who was nominated for Viewer's Choice: Best New International Act and performed his single "Tears" at the live show, stepped onto the red carpet in a statement-making black Jellabiya. The Jellabiya featured intricate gold embroidery and directly referenced Elmiene's Sudanese background. While speaking with OkayAfrica on the red carpet, the Frankfurt-born and Oxford-raised star shared his excitement about performing with some of the R&B stars he looks up to, including Babyface, Jamie Foxx, and Teddy Riley.

Abigail Chams

Tanzania's Abigail Chams, who was also nominated for the Best New International Act, wore a shimmering black dress with a plunged neckline. For accessories, the "Me Too" hitmaker kept things simple with serpentine earrings and silver bracelets.

TxC

South African DJ and producer duo TxC (Tarryn Ried and Clairise Hefke) stormed the red carpet in matching black, distressed fabric dresses. The duo, who have collaborated with some of the continent's biggest stars, including Davido, took home the Best New International Act Award at this year's ceremony.