Nigerian artist puts friendship over accolades as their collaboration “With You” earns recognition at 68th Grammy Rising Nigerian music sensation Stanley Omah Didia, professionally known as Omah Lay, has responded to his first-ever Grammy nomination with a mixture of excitement and nonchalance, while expressing overwhelming support for his collaborator and friend, Davido.
The 27-year-old artist’s collaborative track “With You,” featuring veteran Afrobeats superstar Davido, has been nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards, marking a significant milestone in Omah Lay’s burgeoning career.
Taking to his Instagram page to address the nomination, Omah Lay struck a characteristically candid tone that has become synonymous with his public persona. “I’m excited about this Grammy nomination haha but fr fr I don’t give a sh!t about awards,” the singer wrote, using the familiar internet abbreviation “fr fr” meaning “for real, for real.”
However, the “Soso” hitmaker quickly pivoted from his self-professed indifference to awards, revealing a deeper motivation behind his desire to see the song succeed. “Yeah but I really want it for OBO! he is the realest friend I’ve had in while, he stood by during my hardest times,” Omah Lay continued, referring to Davido by his popular nickname “OBO,” which stands for “Omo Baba Olowo” — Yoruba for “son of a wealthy man.”
The statement offers a rare glimpse into the personal bond between the two artists and suggests that Davido provided crucial support to Omah Lay during an unspecified difficult period. This public acknowledgment of their friendship has resonated with fans across social media platforms, with many praising the authenticity of their relationship in an industry often characterized by superficial connections.
For Davido, whose real name is David Adedeji Adeleke, this nomination represents another opportunity to clinch the elusive Grammy Award that has so far escaped his grasp. Despite being one of Africa’s most decorated and internationally recognized artists, the 32-year-old has been nominated four times previously without securing a win. Notably, two of those nominations have been in the Best African Music Performance category, a relatively new addition to the Grammy Awards introduced in 2023 to recognize the global influence of African music.
The Best African Music Performance category was established as part of the Recording Academy’s efforts to better represent diverse music genres from around the world. Since its inception, it has become one of the most competitive categories, reflecting the explosive international growth of Afrobeats and other African music genres.
“With You” represents a collaboration between two generations of Nigerian music excellence — Davido, who has been a dominant force in Afrobeats for over a decade, and Omah Lay, who emerged as one of the genre’s brightest new talents in recent years with hits like “Godly” and “Understand.”
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony will be broadcast globally on CBS and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+, allowing millions of viewers worldwide to witness whether Davido will finally break his Grammy drought.
As the Nigerian music industry continues its remarkable ascent on the global stage, Omah Lay’s nomination adds to the growing list of African artists receiving recognition from the Recording Academy, further cementing Afrobeats’ position as one of the world’s most influential contemporary music movements.
Whether motivated by personal accolades or loyalty to a friend, the February ceremony promises to be an emotional night for both artists and their legions of fans across Africa and beyond.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nigerian artist Omah Lay has received his first Grammy nomination for “With You” featuring Davido in the Best African Music Performance category. Despite his excitement, Omah Lay publicly stated he cares more about his collaborator winning than the award itself, crediting Davido as “the realest friend” who supported him during difficult times.
The nomination is particularly significant for Davido, who despite four previous Grammy nominations remains without a win. The 68th Grammy Awards will take place February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, offering another chance for African music’s continued global recognition and for Davido to finally secure his first Grammy trophy.
This story transcends awards — it highlights genuine friendship in the music industry, as Omah Lay prioritizes his collaborator’s long-awaited Grammy win over his own maiden nomination, revealing the human bonds behind the hits.
