Speed Darlington, a Nigerian rapper famously known as Akpi, has sparked online buzz with his reaction to Nigeria’s performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The rapper shared a video where he mockingly expressed his thoughts on the country’s music stars losing out on competitive awards despite multiple nominations.
At the awards ceremony held in Los Angeles, South African singer Tyla won the Best African Music Performance category, beating top Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Omah Lay, and Ayra Starr. This left Nigeria without a competitive Grammy win, disappointing many fans of Afrobeats.
Shortly after the event, Speed Darlington recorded a video on the streets of New York City, using the opportunity to poke fun at Nigerian musicians. In the clip, he claimed that winning a Grammy is more about industry connections and pressure than actual talent. He humorously suggested that being linked to influential American figures plays a major role in Grammy success. He even referenced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, which many interpreted as a jab at Burna Boy’s 2021 Grammy win, where Diddy served as the executive producer for Twice as Tall.
Darlington’s comments sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some fans defended his remarks as blunt humor exposing the harsh realities of the music industry, others criticized him for disrespecting Nigerian artists who have helped bring Afrobeats to the global stage.
The debate also reignited discussions about African music’s representation at the Grammys, with fans pointing out that despite its growing global influence, African music remains underappreciated at the prestigious awards.
