Nigerian superstar Davido has been officially accepted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, the organization that runs the GRAMMY Awards, giving the Afrobeats star a direct role in nominating and selecting winners for the 2026 ceremony.
The Recording Academy confirmed Davido’s inclusion in a short video shared on its official Instagram feed that features newly admitted members celebrating their acceptance. Local and international outlets covering the story say the move makes Davido — a multiple-time GRAMMY nominee — eligible to participate in both the nomination and final-ballot stages for the upcoming awards.
Reacting to the milestone, Davido described the opportunity as a “game-changer,” stressing the importance of having African artists’ voices represented in the awards process and the power of voting to shape what receives global recognition. The singer’s statement and the Academy’s post underline ongoing efforts to diversify the Academy’s membership.
Davido’s inclusion carries symbolic and practical weight for Afrobeats and African music more broadly. He has been a prominent figure in pushing the continent’s sounds onto global stages — a profile that includes multiple GRAMMY nominations in recent years — and his participation in the Academy means an additional African perspective at the table as categories and nominees are discussed.
Industry observers say the Recording Academy’s expanded international recruitment of voting members aims to make the awards more representative of the modern global music industry. For artists and fans in Africa, the addition of high-profile musicians like Davido can increase attention to regional releases during the voting window, though voting remains confidential and governed by Academy rules.
Voting for the 2026 GRAMMYs is scheduled to open soon, and Davido will be eligible to cast votes once the first-round ballots are distributed to qualified members. The Academy has repeatedly emphasised participation and listening as central responsibilities for voting members, who must meet professional criteria designed to preserve the integrity of the process.
Davido’s new role is being hailed by many fans and industry peers as a win for African representation at one of the music world’s most influential institutions, and it follows a broader pattern of increased engagement between the Recording Academy and global music communities.
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