South African pop star Tyla has made Grammy history after winning the Best African Music Performance award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, United States.
The 24-year-old singer emerged victorious in a highly competitive category that featured Nigerian music heavyweights Davido, Burna Boy and Ayra Starr, clinching the award with her hit single Push 2 Start.
With the win, Tyla becomes the first artiste to claim the Best African Music Performance award twice since the category was introduced by the Recording Academy in 2024. She previously won the inaugural prize with her global breakout single Water, which propelled her to international stardom.
The Best African Music Performance category was created to recognise recordings that authentically represent African musical styles, sounds and cultural expressions. Since its debut, it has quickly become one of the most keenly watched Grammy categories across Africa and the diaspora.
Tyla’s latest winning track, Push 2 Start, is one of the standout songs from her self-titled debut album Tyla, released in 2024. The song enjoyed massive success across streaming platforms and gained further traction through viral dance challenges on social media.
Blending amapiano rhythms with pop and R&B influences, Push 2 Start explores themes of romance, independence and self-confidence—elements that have come to define Tyla’s evolving artistic identity and global appeal.
This year’s category was dominated by African stars, particularly from Nigeria. Davido received a nomination for With You, featuring Omah Lay, while Burna Boy was nominated for Love. Ayra Starr also earned a nod for Gimme Dat, featuring Wizkid. Other nominees included Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
Despite Nigeria’s strong presence, Tyla’s back-to-back win further cements her position as one of Africa’s most successful contemporary pop exports.
Since signing with an international record label in 2021, the Johannesburg-born singer has recorded a meteoric rise, including a top-25 debut on the Billboard 200 and multiple charting singles across global markets.
The 68th Grammy Awards also marked a historic moment for African music, as legendary Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a special ceremony held ahead of the main event.
The recognition of both Tyla and Fela underscores the growing global acknowledgement of Africa’s past, present and future contributions to world music.
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