South African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, defeating top Nigerian artistes Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr in the highly competitive category. The win further confirms Tyla’s rising influence on the global music stage and her growing dominance in African pop music.
Tyla clinched the award with her hit song Push 2 Start, beating Burna Boy’s Love, Davido’s With You featuring Omah Lay, Gimme Dat by Ayra Starr and Wizkid, as well as Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
The announcement was made during the Grammy Awards ceremony held in the United States, where artistes from around the world were celebrated for excellence in music. The Best African Music Performance category once again drew major attention, especially from African fans, due to the strong presence of Nigerian artistes.
The category was introduced in 2024 by the Recording Academy to recognise African music and its growing global impact. Since its creation, it has become one of the most closely watched Grammy categories on the continent, as it reflects Africa’s expanding influence in global pop culture.
This year’s nominations showed Nigeria’s continued dominance in African music, with three Nigerian stars — Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr — making the final shortlist. Wizkid also appeared on the list as a featured artiste on Ayra Starr’s nominated song.
Despite Nigeria’s strong showing, it was Tyla who emerged as the winner, making this her second victory in the category. She first won the award in 2024 with her global hit Water, becoming the first-ever recipient of the Best African Music Performance Grammy.
With this latest win, Tyla has now won the category twice since its introduction, a record that places her among the most successful African artistes at the Grammys in recent years.
Tyla, who rose to international fame with Water, has built a strong fan base across Africa, Europe, and the United States. Her music blends pop, amapiano, and R&B sounds, which has helped her connect with a wide global audience. Push 2 Start, the song that won her the 2026 Grammy, has enjoyed massive airplay and streaming success across several countries.
Nigerian fans, while disappointed by the outcome, have continued to praise their artistes for representing the country on the world stage. Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid are among Nigeria’s biggest music exports and have played key roles in taking Afrobeats to international audiences.
Burna Boy, a Grammy winner himself, has remained a strong presence at the awards over the years. Davido, one of Africa’s most popular artistes, has also received several international nominations and awards. Ayra Starr, one of the youngest nominees, continues to grow as a global star, while Wizkid remains one of Africa’s most recognised music figures worldwide.
The Best African Music Performance category was created partly in response to calls for better representation of African music at major international award shows. Before its introduction, African artistes were often grouped into broader world music categories, which many felt did not fully capture the diversity and impact of African sounds.
Since 2024, the category has helped shine a brighter light on African music and encouraged more global listeners to explore sounds from the continent. It has also sparked healthy debate among fans about fairness, representation, and the evolving definition of African pop music.
Reactions on social media following Tyla’s win were mixed. While many congratulated the South African singer on her achievement, others expressed disappointment that Nigerian artistes once again missed out on the prize. Some fans described the category as highly competitive, noting that any of the nominees could have won.
Despite the loss, Nigerian artistes continue to enjoy massive success globally. Afrobeats remains one of the fastest-growing music genres in the world, with Nigerian musicians leading the movement. Their presence at the Grammys, year after year, reflects their strong influence and international appeal.
For Tyla, the 2026 Grammy win marks another major milestone in her young career. Winning the same category twice in just a few years places her among Africa’s most successful Grammy-era artistes and strengthens her position as a leading voice in modern African music.