In a move that has sparked mixed reactions across the music community, the organizers of the Grammy Awards have spotlighted the global rise of Afrobeats by naming the top three Afrobeats artists and top ten songs of all time—conspicuously omitting Nigerian superstar Davido from both lists.

In a recent article published by the Recording Academy, the Grammys praised the genre’s explosive growth from the mid-2010s to its current dominance on global charts, citing Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Rema as the top three artists driving Afrobeats’ international acclaim.

“From its rise in popularity in the mid-2010s to current worldwide, chart-topping supremacy by the likes of @wizkidayo, @burnaboy, and @heisrema, the essence of Afrobeats is continually evolving,” the Academy noted.

To commemorate the genre’s journey, the Recording Academy curated a list of the top ten Afrobeats songs of all time, blending early classics with modern hits. The featured songs include:

African Queen – 2Baba (2004)

Do Me – P-Square (2007)

Bumper 2 Bumper – Wande Coal (2009)

Pon Pon Pon – Dagrin (2009)

Azonto – Fuse ODG ft. Tiffany Owusu (2014)

Mad Over You – Runtown (2016)

Maradona – Niniola (2017)

Sungba – Asake (2022)

Ozeba – Rema (2024)

While the recognition was welcomed by many who celebrated the homage paid to Afrobeats trailblazers and current stars, the omission of Davido—one of the genre’s most commercially successful and globally recognized figures—has ignited debate online.

Fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment, questioning the criteria used by the Academy. “How can you talk Afrobeats without Davido? His influence is undeniable,” one user commented.

Despite the controversy, the Grammys’ nod to Afrobeats reflects the genre’s increasing legitimacy and global influence—a testament to the power of African music on the world stage.