Nigerian Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has submitted his sixth studio album, Oriade, and several songs for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, expanding his bid for recognition at one of the international music industry's most prominent award ceremonies.
The reported submissions cover multiple categories, including Album of the Year, Best Global Music Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best African Music Performance and Best Music Video.
The entries were disclosed on October 12 by Grammy-focused platform The Grammy Guru and reported by Nigerian entertainment publications on October 13, 2026. They include Davido's album Oriade and tracks such as B4 B4, Nakupenda, Le Show and I Know Who I Be. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search1","turn833038search7"]}/>
The development comes as the Recording Academy's first-round voting period for the 2027 Grammys runs from October 12 to October 22. The Academy has scheduled the announcement of nominees for November 16, 2026, while the awards ceremony is set for February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles. <Cite refs={["turn833038search5","turn833038search7"]}/>
The submissions represent another opportunity for Davido's music to be considered by the Recording Academy. However, they do not mean the singer has secured nominations or won an award. The entries must pass the Academy's eligibility and voting processes before nominees are confirmed.
‘Oriade’ enters four album categories
Davido's album Oriade is among the most prominent parts of his reported Grammy submission package.
According to TheCable Lifestyle and QED.NG, the album was submitted for consideration in four categories: Album of the Year, Best Global Music Album, Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) and Best Album Cover. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search7"]}/>
The categories recognise different aspects of recorded music. Album of the Year is one of the Grammys' major general-field awards, while Best Global Music Album focuses on eligible albums in the global music field. Best Engineered Album recognises technical achievement in sound recording, and Best Album Cover recognises visual artwork associated with an album.
The different submissions mean the album is being considered not only as a collection of musical performances but also in categories connected with its recording and visual presentation.
For artists and their teams, the Grammy submission process can involve several parts of a project. Depending on the category, entries may concern the overall album, individual recordings, music videos, artwork or technical work.
The inclusion of Oriade in multiple categories reflects the breadth of Davido's reported campaign for the 2027 awards. The final outcome will depend on eligibility assessments and voting by qualified Recording Academy members.
It is important to distinguish between the submission of an album and its eventual nomination. Artists, labels and other eligible participants submit works for consideration, but not every submission advances to the final ballot.
‘B4 B4’ targets major song categories
Davido's collaboration B4 B4, featuring Mayorkun and FOLA, was reportedly submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best African Music Performance.
The three categories recognise different aspects of music. Record of the Year primarily recognises the recorded performance and production of a track, while Song of the Year focuses on songwriting. Best African Music Performance recognises eligible recordings within the Academy's African music category. <Cite refs={["turn833038search1","turn833038search7","turn833038search10"]}/>
The involvement of Mayorkun and FOLA also highlights the collaborative nature of contemporary Nigerian popular music. Major releases increasingly bring together performers with different audiences, styles and creative backgrounds.
Collaborations can help artists reach listeners beyond their established fan bases, although their commercial and awards performance depends on the music, its reception and the rules governing each award category.
For B4 B4, the reported submissions place the recording before voters in several different categories. They do not establish that the track will become a nominee, and the Academy has not confirmed the reported entries as final nominations.
The distinction is particularly important during awards season, when social media discussions can sometimes describe submitted songs as if they have already been shortlisted.
At this stage, the confirmed development is the reported submission of the song for consideration. The nomination decision remains pending.
‘Nakupenda’ submitted for Song of the Year and African performance
Another reported entry is Nakupenda, Davido's collaboration with South African music duo TxC and other artists, including Zlatan, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma and Al Xapo.
The track was reportedly submitted for Song of the Year and Best African Music Performance. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search1","turn833038search7"]}/>
The collaboration illustrates the cross-border connections shaping contemporary African popular music. Nigerian and South African artists have increasingly worked across Afrobeats, amapiano and other dance-oriented styles, creating recordings that draw on audiences in several markets.
These musical connections can be significant for the wider African entertainment industry. Collaborations allow performers, producers and labels to share audiences and create new commercial opportunities across national borders.
However, cross-border popularity does not automatically translate into a Grammy nomination. The Recording Academy's rules, eligibility assessments and voting decisions determine which submissions proceed to the final ballot.
The reported entry of Nakupenda in two categories gives the song more than one possible route to consideration, but its status remains that of a submission rather than a confirmed nominee.
‘Le Show’ and ‘I Know Who I Be’ also feature
The reported submission list includes two additional recordings associated with Davido.
Le Show, featuring Ayra Starr and French Montana, was reportedly entered for Best African Music Performance. Meanwhile, I Know Who I Be, featuring JAZZWRLD and GL_Ceejay, was submitted for Best Music Video. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search7","turn833038search9"]}/>
These entries broaden the reported range of Davido's campaign beyond his album and two prominent songs.
The Best African Music Performance category provides a route for eligible recordings that represent the diversity of contemporary African music. The Best Music Video category, meanwhile, focuses on the visual presentation of a musical work.
Music videos have become an important part of how artists introduce songs to audiences, develop visual identities and build online engagement. For Nigerian performers competing for international attention, a music video can help communicate a song's concept and presentation to viewers who may not initially know the artist.
Nevertheless, the artistic or commercial success of a video is separate from the Grammy selection process. The final nominations depend on the Academy's rules and the voting process.
The reported entries for Le Show and I Know Who I Be should therefore be understood as part of the wider submission list, not evidence that either work has advanced to the nominee stage.
What the reported submissions mean
Taken together, the entries indicate that Davido's team has put forward work across several parts of the 2027 Grammy programme.
The album Oriade has been reported in four categories, while the individual tracks target categories for songwriting, recording performance, African music and music video production.
This approach is not unusual in the music industry. A single album cycle can generate eligible recordings, videos and visual materials that are considered under different award categories, provided each entry meets the relevant rules.
For artists, submissions are one part of a broader process that includes releasing music, making it available to audiences, promoting projects and building relationships within the industry.
For Nigerian music, participation in international awards can also provide an opportunity to draw attention to the country's performers, songwriters, producers and visual creatives.
However, it would be premature to assess the success of Davido's Grammy campaign before the Academy announces the nominees. A large number of submissions may demonstrate an active campaign, but the final outcome depends on the voting process.
The Academy's first-round voting period is the next key stage. The November 16 nominee announcement will establish which entries progress to the final ballot.
Understanding the Grammy submission and voting process
The Grammy Awards operate through a multi-stage process. The submission of a recording is not the same as nomination, and nomination is not the same as winning.
According to the Recording Academy's official guide, eligible works are entered through its Online Entry Process. Academy staff then review submissions for eligibility, after which qualified voting members participate in the voting rounds that determine nominees and winners. <Cite refs={["turn833038search5"]}/>
The Academy's first-round voting period for the 69th Grammy Awards runs from October 12 to October 22, 2026. The results of that round will determine nominees in the relevant categories, with the complete list scheduled to be announced on November 16. Final-round voting is scheduled for December 10, 2026, to January 7, 2027. <Cite refs={["turn833038search5"]}/>
The ceremony will take place on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles. <Cite refs={["turn833038search5","turn833038search10"]}/>
This timetable means the industry is currently in the voting stage rather than the final nominations stage.
For music fans following Nigerian artists, the distinction is essential. Reports of submissions can show which works artists hope to have considered, but only the official nominee announcement will confirm which recordings have made the final shortlist.
The Recording Academy's eligibility rules also mean that the number of submissions does not directly determine the number of nominations an artist receives. Each entry is assessed according to the relevant category requirements and the Academy's voting process.
Davido's previous Grammy experience
Davido has previously received Grammy nominations, bringing experience of the international awards process to his latest campaign.
At the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, his album Timeless was nominated for Best Global Music Album. His songs Unavailable, featuring Musa Keys, and Feel were also nominated for Best African Music Performance. He did not win in those categories. <Cite refs={["turn833038search7","turn833038search1"]}/>
Those nominations helped bring his music before a wider international awards audience, although Grammy recognition is only one measure of an artist's career.
Davido has also built a large audience through recordings, live performances, collaborations and releases distributed across digital platforms. His current campaign places new material before voters as the next awards cycle progresses.
The reported submissions for Oriade and the associated songs represent a new round of consideration, rather than a continuation of the 2024 nominations themselves. The works and eligibility period are different, and the results of the 2027 process have not yet been announced.
For the singer and his fans, the immediate question is which, if any, of the reported entries will advance to the November nominee list.
Nigerian artists in a competitive international field
Davido is not the only Nigerian performer seeking consideration for the 2027 Grammys.
TheCable reported that fellow Nigerian singer Asake submitted four entries, including his album M$NEY and collaborations such as Jogodo with Wizkid. Other reports have also identified submissions by Nigerian artists including Ayra Starr and Tems. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search12","turn833038search3"]}/>
The submissions show that Nigerian artists and their teams are continuing to engage with the international awards process across different releases and musical styles.
Afrobeats and related African genres have attracted increasing international attention over recent years. Collaborations between Nigerian performers and artists from other countries have helped carry African popular music to audiences around the world.
Still, international attention does not guarantee awards recognition. Grammy voters consider eligible recordings across a broad range of genres and countries, and competition can be substantial.
For Nigerian artists, the awards process offers one avenue for international recognition alongside touring, streaming, radio play, music licensing and other commercial activities.
The presence of multiple Nigerian artists among reported submissions is therefore notable, but it should not be presented as a guarantee of nominations or wins. The outcome will only become clear when the Academy publishes its official nominee list.
Why the African music category matters
Best African Music Performance provides a dedicated category for eligible African music recordings and is one of the areas in which several of Davido's reported entries have been submitted.
The category offers international recognition for recordings rooted in the continent's diverse music traditions. African popular music encompasses a wide range of styles, languages and regional influences, and artists frequently combine these influences with contemporary production.
Nigerian performers have been particularly visible in the international growth of Afrobeats, while collaborations with artists from other African countries have helped strengthen connections across the continent's music industries.
The submissions of B4 B4, Nakupenda and Le Show for Best African Music Performance, as reported by entertainment publications, put these recordings forward for consideration in that field. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search7"]}/>
Their final status will depend on eligibility and voting. The reported entries do not mean that the tracks have been selected as nominees.
The category's wider significance also extends beyond individual artists. International recognition can help bring attention to the work of songwriters, producers, engineers and other creative professionals who contribute to recordings.
However, the industry's long-term growth depends on much more than awards. Investment in music production, copyright protection, distribution, live performance infrastructure and fair compensation remains important to the ability of African artists to build sustainable careers.
The importance of the November announcement
The next major milestone for Davido's Grammy campaign is the official announcement of nominees on November 16, 2026.
Until then, the reported submissions provide an indication of the categories in which his music has been entered, but not a final assessment of the campaign's success.
The nominee announcement will establish whether Oriade or any of the listed songs advances to the final stage. The subsequent voting period will determine the winners, who will be revealed at the ceremony on February 7, 2027. <Cite refs={["turn833038search5","turn833038search7"]}/>
For Nigerian fans and the music industry, the announcement will also provide a clearer picture of the country's representation in the final Grammy field.
The process is competitive, and the result should be reported accurately when it becomes available. A submission is a preliminary step, a nomination is a formal selection by the Academy's voting process, and a win is decided through the final round.
Conclusion
Davido has reportedly submitted his album Oriade and several songs for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, with entries spanning album, recording, songwriting, African music performance and music video categories.
The reported list includes B4 B4, Nakupenda, Le Show and I Know Who I Be, alongside the album itself. The submissions were reported as the Recording Academy began first-round voting on October 12, with nominations scheduled to be announced on November 16. <Cite refs={["turn833038search0","turn833038search7","turn833038search5"]}/>
The development marks another attempt by the Afrobeats star to secure recognition from the Academy following his previous nominations. It also reflects the continuing participation of Nigerian artists in the international awards process.
For now, the entries remain submissions for consideration. Whether they become official nominations will depend on the Academy's eligibility review and voting decisions.
The next decisive update will come with the November nominee announcement, followed by the final awards ceremony in February 2027.
Sources used for verification
TheCable Lifestyle — “Davido submits five entries for 2027 Grammy Awards consideration,” October 13, 2026: https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/davido-submits-five-entries-for-2027-grammy-awards-consideration/
QED.NG — “Davido submits five songs, album for 2027 Grammy consideration,” October 13, 2026: https://www.qed.ng/davido-submits-five-songs-album-for-2027-grammy-consideration/
The Next Edition — “Davido Submits Multiple Entries For 2027 Grammy Awards Consideration,” October 13, 2026: https://nextedition.com.ng/davido-submits-multiple-entries-for-2027-grammy-awards-consideration
Recording Academy — “How To Submit Your Music For The 2027 Grammys: Deadlines, Grammy Nominations, Grammy Voting Process & More”: https://www.grammy.com/news/2027-grammys-how-submit-music-guide/
Recording Academy — “Five New Categories And Rule Updates Take Effect For 2027 Grammys”: https://www.grammy.com/news/2027-grammys-new-categories-rule-updates/
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