South African singer Tyla has emerged victorious at the 2026 Grammy Awards, winning the Best African Music Performance category and defeating leading Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr.
The 24-year-old global sensation claimed the prestigious award for her hit single Push 2 Start, beating strong contenders including Burna Boy’s Love, Davido’s With You featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr’s Gimme Dat featuring Wizkid, and Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo with Hope & Love.
This marks Tyla’s second consecutive Grammy win after making history at the 2024 Grammy Awards with her global smash hit Water, which also triumphed over several Nigerian nominees.
Reacting emotionally after receiving the award in Los Angeles, Tyla expressed gratitude and pride.
“This is insane, this is so insane! I’m just so lucky to be here and I’m so proud to be African. I’m excited to see more of us over here,” she said.
Her victory sparked widespread celebrations online, with “Congratulations Tyla” trending across social media platforms, particularly in South Africa and beyond.
Fans praised her achievement, with one social media user writing: “South Africa is proud of you! We are proud of you!”
Although Nigerian nominees missed out in the category, the country still had a major moment of recognition. Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti was posthumously honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 29 years after his passing.
Other African nominees in different categories, including Burna Boy, Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, and Angelique Kidjo, were also unsuccessful on the night.
The ceremony was hosted for the sixth consecutive year by South African-born comedian Trevor Noah, further highlighting Africa’s growing influence on the global stage.
Tyla’s continued success underscores the rising dominance of African music worldwide and signals an exciting future for the continent’s creative industry.
