South African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, defeating Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr in the category.
The 68th Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, where American rapper Kendrick Lamar emerged as the overall biggest winner of the night for the second year running, claiming five awards. The ceremony also saw Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny win the highly coveted album of the year prize.
Tyla secured the African category with her song Push 2 Start, beating Burna Boy’s Love, Davido’s With You featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s Gimme Dat, as well as Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
The category, created to give African music greater global recognition, again had strong Nigerian presence, with Burna Boy, Davido and Ayra Starr making the final shortlist.
Tyla’s latest win makes her a two-time winner in the category since it was introduced in 2024. She first won the award with her global hit Water, becoming the inaugural recipient. She is now the first artiste to win the title twice.
The Best African Music Performance category was introduced in 2024 to honour recordings that showcase African sounds on the global stage. The 2025 edition of the award was won by Nigerian singer Tems.
Push 2 Start is taken from Tyla’s self-titled debut album Tyla, released in 2024. The song gained wide attention through streaming platforms and viral dance challenges on social media, blending amapiano, pop and R&B while exploring themes of romance and self-confidence.
Tyla’s growing list of international accolades has continued to boost her global profile and reinforce her position as one of Africa’s most successful young pop exports on the world stage.
