The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominations were announced, and Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, South African star Tyla, Ghanaian-American artist Moliy, and Nigerian-American singer Shaboozey were all nominated.

For Nigerian fans, Ayra Starr’s nomination has particular significance. Songs like Rush have stayed in global radio and streaming circulation, and her inclusion places her among some of the biggest names in world music.

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Tyla appears in the same category. The South African singer has helped take amapiano into global pop spaces and her nomination reflects how widely the sound has spread.

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This year, Moliy earned multiple nominations, including World Artist of the Year and Best New Artist (Hip-Hop). Her music spans multiple genres , and the recognition points to her growing reach outside Africa.

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Shaboozey is nominated for Song of the Year with “A Bar Song” (Tipsy). It is uncommon to see an artist with African roots recognised in a U. S-centric award space, which makes his inclusion notable.

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A few years ago, this mix would have seemed unlikely.

The awards ceremony will take place on March 26, 2026. With Ayra Starr, Tyla, Moliy, and Shaboozey on the list, African artists are firmly part of the global awards conversation.

Adekunle Gold became the first artiste to sell out the newly renovated National Theatre, following it’s renaming as the Wole Soyinka centre for culture and creative arts. His concert on December 26, 2025, filled the 3,500-capacity hall just weeks after it’s reopening.

The performances spanned all six albums, with a strong focus on his Fuji project. The 55-piece MUSON Orchestra joined his band, The 79th Element, enhancing the richness of the life performance. Olamide hosted. Davido performed Only God Can Save Me, while Adewale Ayuba and Yinka Ayefele joined the lineup.

Adekunle Gold – Instagram

After the show, Adekunle gold received plaques. One honoured him as the venues first sell-out headliner, while the other was presented to his label. He later thanked fans on social media and announced dates for his North America tour.

Social media quickly filled with videos of the orchestra and guest appearances, with fans describing the night as a key moment for live shows in Lagos.

With improved sound and seating, the National Theatre is once again hosting major acts. Adekunle Gold’s set ran for over two hours, blending fuji, highlife, and afrobeats.

The crowd sang along to hits like High as well as new Fuji tracks, with lights and screens moving in sync with the music.

Adekunle Gold – Instagram

The plaque ceremony took place backstage, where officials from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts handed them over. Photos from the moment spread across Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), as fans trended #AGNationalTheatre.

Fans have since described the show as setting a new standard for concerts. Lagos venues are already booking more dates. Adekunle Gold is set to release new music in 2026, with North America tour dates beginning soon.

Ciara’s latest release, “Nice n’ Sweet,” arrives with the kind of clarity that shows a deliberate new phase. Featured on the CiCi deluxe edition, the track pairs her R&B foundations with a lively Afro-influenced sound shaped by Oxlade and Moliy, two artists who have created a unique spaces within African pop’s today’s sound. The collaboration pulls three different style into one direction, resulting in a song that feels good in its mix.

Produced by Shyne and Lucky Jones, the single uses a warm beat and smooth melodic patterns that give the song its rhythm. Ciara’s delivery stays soft, setting the tone before Oxlade steps in with his smooth, instantly recognisable tone. Moliy adds a lightness that rounds out the trio’s chemistry, creating a mix that feels global without without drifting.

Ciara & Moliy: Instagram

Lyrically, the track plays with intimacy and rhythm, reflecting the playful lines that have already drew interest online. It’s an easy listen on the surface, though there’s a clear intention in how each voice is arranged in parts, lending the record a clean result that suits its cross-cultural identity.

Beyond the sound, “Nice n’ Sweet” marks another point in Ciara’s ongoing connection to African music, a relationship she has been exploring more openly in recent years. Oxlade’s inclusion reflects his continued rise among international audiences, while for Moliy, the feature signals another significant step in her expanding path.