Davido is the First Nominee On The Rise Of African Music & Making 'Timeless' Songs.
Afrobeats nigerian artist Davido celebrates three nominations at the 2024 GRAMMYs:For the Best Global Music Performance, Best Global Music Album and Best African Music Performance which helped him become part of history.
Davido has dedicated his life to his African roots. From paying tribute to the Yoruba people on his debut album, 2012's Omo Baba Olowo, to hosting the inaugural A.W.A.Y Festival last November, the Nigerian-American singer/songwriter/producer's pride is undeniable.
That's part of what makes Davido's first-ever GRAMMY nominations so special. Not only is he nominated for three golden gramphones at the 2024 GRAMMYs, but he's nominated for the first-ever Category honoring African music.
For now, African music is also honored in the Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance Categories — both of which feature Davido's work. His acclaimed fourth album, Timeless, is nominated in the former Category, while sultry album cut “FEEL”that which came after.
Along with Davido, the Best African Music Performance Category features some of the continent's best and brightest talent, Ayra Starr, Tyla, Burna Boy, and ASAKE & Olamide. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Davido's nominated track is also his biggest to date: "UNAVAILABLE," his thumping hit with South African producer Musa Keys that reached No. 3 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart in 2023.
Timeless marked an important point in Davido's career, as it was his first album in nearly three years after releasing two back to back, 2019's A Good Time and 2020's A Better Time. While he says it's his most personal work to date, Davido wanted to make sure the final result was exactly what its title indicated.
"I wanted to go for something that would transcend the 'here and now' fads," he explains. "When people listen back to it 20 years later, I want it to hit the same as people listening to it now."
The three-year gap between albums helped foster that, as it allowed Davido to reset and recalibrate. "I think it gave me time to not only reconnect with my family, but to reconnect with myself too," he adds. "I think I needed that time to come back even better than before and do what I do best — spread joy through music."
As the rise of African music continues, Davido has proven that he'll strive to stay at the forefront. Wherever he takes his music from here, one thing is certain: he'll always make sure it's timeless.