Entertainment
2Face NAMES BURNA BOY NIGERIA’S BEST MUSICIAN, RANKS HIM ABOVE DAVIDO AND WIZKID
Veteran Nigerian singer and songwriter 2Face has weighed in on the long-running debate over who Nigeria’s greatest musician is, naming Burna Boy as his top pick ahead of Davido and Wizkid.
Speaking during a recent interview, 2Face praised Burna Boy’s artistry, consistency, and global influence, describing him as the most complete Nigerian musician of his generation. According to the music veteran, Burna Boy’s ability to blend African sounds with global appeal sets him apart from his peers.
2Face acknowledged the massive impact of Davido and Wizkid on Afrobeats’ global rise, noting that both artists have played critical roles in taking Nigerian music to international audiences. However, he maintained that Burna Boy’s depth, musical evolution, and stage presence give him a slight edge.
The comment has since sparked conversations across social media, reigniting the popular Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid debate among fans. While supporters of each artist continue to defend their favourites, 2Face’s opinion adds another high-profile voice to the ongoing discussion about Nigeria’s music hierarchy.
South African singer Tyla has won her second Grammy Award, taking home the Best African Music Performance prize for her hit song Push 2 Start.
The 24-year-old emerged victorious over four other nominees, including Nigerian stars Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and Davido, as well as Ugandan artist Eddy Kenzo.Tyla previously won the same category in 2024 for her global hit Water, also outperforming several Nigerian artists.
Speaking after her win at the Los Angeles ceremony, she said:”This is insane, this is so insane! I’m just so lucky to be here and I’m so proud to be African.
I’m excited to see more of us over here.”The singer’s triumph quickly became a trending topic on social media, with fans celebrating her achievement.
One X user wrote, “South Africa is proud of you! We are proud of you!” Another added, “While I hoped Ayra Starr would win, Tyla worked hard, you deserve it.”
Nominees for Best African Music Performance:
Love – Burna Boy
With You – Davido featuring Omah Lay
Hope & Love – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin
Gimme Dat – Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid
Push 2 Start – Tyla
Despite Afrobeats’ global popularity, Nigerian fans expressed disappointment that none of their stars won.
Burna Boy was also nominated in the Best Global Music Album category, while Angelique Kidjo received a nod in Best Global Music Performance, but neither took home a Grammy statuette.
One Nigerian artist did receive posthumous recognition: music legend Fela Kuti was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, 29 years after his death.
South African comedian Trevor Noah also had a standout night, hosting the Grammy ceremony for the sixth consecutive year.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, following his posthumous recognition with the Recording Academy of America’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a State House statement, the President described Fela as more than a musician, portraying him as a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary figure whose music challenged injustice and reshaped global sound.
Tinubu noted that Fela’s courage, creativity and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire audiences across the world.
Drawing from Yoruba mythology, the President said the legendary musician has transcended to a higher spiritual plane, likening him to an Orisa whose legacy has become eternal.
The President said the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which makes Fela the first African to receive the honour posthumously, is a powerful affirmation of his enduring global influence and his foundational role in projecting Africa’s impact on modern music.
According to Tinubu, Fela not only defined Afrobeat but also laid the groundwork for generations of Nigerian musicians, with his influence resonating strongly in contemporary Afrobeats and other global music genres.
“Fela lives,” the President declared.
Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been awarded a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African artist to receive the honour nearly three decades after his death in 1997.
The Recording Academy announced that the award will be formally presented during the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremonies.
The presentation is scheduled for January 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, a day ahead of the main Grammy event.
Observers have described the recognition as a symbolic reconciliation between Fela’s revolutionary music and the global music establishment an institution he openly criticised throughout his lifetime for what he viewed as cultural and political complacency.
In announcing the honour, the Academy highlighted Fela’s vast musical catalogue, his enduring influence on global music, and renewed efforts to celebrate his legacy.
These include the podcast series “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man” and the Broadway production “Fela! The Musical.”
Fela’s impact continues to resonate strongly across generations, particularly in modern Nigerian Afrobeats, where many contemporary artists draw inspiration from his sound, activism, and fearless engagement with political power.
Reacting to the award, Seun Kuti, Fela’s son and current leader of the legendary band Egypt 80, expressed pride in the recognition while revealing that he would be unable to attend the ceremony due to travel restrictions.
He stressed that the honour represents a victory for African music as a whole rather than an individual triumph.
“It’s a good day for African music, Afrobeat culture, and resistance music,” Seun Kuti said.
Fela Kuti remains a towering symbol of political, cultural, and artistic resistance, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award further cements his status as one of the most influential figures in global music history.
The honour follows the 2025 induction of Fela’s 1976 album “Zombie” into the Grammy Hall of Fame, adding to the growing list of international recognitions celebrating his legacy.
As the 2026 Grammy weekend approaches, fans, musicians, and cultural advocates around the world are marking the award as a long-overdue acknowledgement of Fela Kuti’s enduring contributions to music, activism, and global culture.