Burna Boy and Tems nominations headline Nigeria’s representation among nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, announced August 18. Burna Boy earned recognition for Dai Dai, his collaboration with Shakira, competing in both Best Collaboration and Best Latin categories.
Tems secured a Best R&B nomination for Raindance, her collaboration with British rapper Dave, adding another milestone to her career. The nominations highlight Nigeria’s musical influence, even as MTV removed the dedicated Best Afrobeats category from this year’s awards lineup.
For Burna Boy, Dai Dai carries major international significance as the official song connected with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Shakira and Burna Boy blended Latin pop with Afrobeats, creating a crossover record that reached audiences across multiple international markets.
The collaboration also gained major visibility through World Cup performances, strengthening its profile ahead of the prestigious MTV ceremony. Meanwhile, Tems continues expanding her footprint through Raindance, which appears on Dave’s 2025 album The Boy Who Played the Harp.
Raindance delivered strong commercial results, reaching number one on the United Kingdom Singles Chart and becoming Tems’ first UK chart-topper. The track also gained attention across Europe and other markets before reaching American audiences through streaming, radio, and chart appearances.
Tems brings her distinctive R&B and Afrobeats-influenced vocals to Raindance, complementing Dave’s British rap style and production approach effectively overall. Together, Burna Boy and Tems demonstrate Nigerian artists’ growing ability to compete within major international award categories beyond Afrobeats today.
Their nominations arrive as MTV reshapes its categories, placing greater emphasis on broad musical genres and high-profile collaborations this year. For Nigerian music fans, the recognition represents another opportunity to celebrate African creativity on one of music’s biggest global stages.
56The 2026 MTV VMAs will take place September 27 in Los Angeles, with fan voting currently open across selected categories. Burna Boy and Tems nominations give Nigerian music another prominent spotlight during an international MTV Video Music Awards era.
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