African music is once again commanding global attention as Nigerian stars Burna Boy and Tems earn nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Burna Boy received two nominations for his collaboration with Shakira on “Dai Dai,” competing in the Best Collaboration and Best Latin categories. Tems earned a Best R&B nomination for “Raindance,” her collaboration with British rapper Dave.
Their recognition comes as MTV drops the Best Afrobeats category from this year’s awards. Instead, both Nigerian artists are competing directly in international categories, highlighting the growing global reach of African music.
The 2026 MTV VMAs will take place on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will bring together some of the biggest names in global music, with Burna Boy and Tems representing Nigeria on the international stage.