South African singer Tyla has strengthened her global reputation after emerging winner of the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards, edging out several Nigerian music giants in one of the night’s most competitive races.
The event which was held in Los Angeles, on Sunday night, February 1, 2026, had Tyla becoming a 2 time Grammys winner.
Her hit single “Push 2 Start” secured the award ahead of entries from some of Africa’s biggest stars, including Burna Boy’s “Love”, Davido and Omah Lay’s collaboration “With You”, Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat”, and “Hope & Love” by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
The category, created to recognise and celebrate Africa’s expanding influence in global music, has quickly become a highlight of the Grammy Awards as African sounds continue to dominate international charts.
Tyla’s victory marks another major milestone in her rapidly rising career and underscores South Africa’s growing presence in the global music industry.
Her win also reflects the increasing global appetite for Amapiano and contemporary African pop sounds.
For Nigeria’s music scene, however, the ceremony ended without a win despite multiple nominations.
Industry heavyweights including Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Ayra Starr and Omah Lay all missed out on Grammy trophies this year, making 2026 an unusually quiet outing for the country that has long dominated Africa’s global music export.
Burna Boy also lost in the Best Global Music Album category, where his project “No Sign of Weakness” was beaten by Brazilian icons Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia, whose live collaborative album claimed the award.
Tyla’s latest win carries additional significance, as it makes her a two-time recipient of the Best African Music Performance award, following her historic win in 2024 with the global hit “Water”, which inaugurated the category.
Her continued success highlights the expanding international space for African female artists and reflects broader changes in how music from the continent is received worldwide.
With African genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano gaining stronger footholds across Europe and the United States, competition among African artists on global stages continues to intensify, pointing to a new chapter for African music in mainstream entertainment.