South African pop star Tyla once again stamped her authority on the global music stage after winning the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards. She triumphed over Nigeria’s biggest exports — Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid — in a fiercely contested category.
Tyla secured the honour with her viral record “Push 2 Start,” beating Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love.” The category, created to spotlight African creativity, continues to draw global attention as Afrobeats and African pop gain mainstream appeal.
This win further cements Tyla’s fast-rising dominance on the international award scene and highlights South Africa’s growing footprint in the global music ecosystem. She is now a two-time winner in this category, having first made history in 2024 with her breakout hit “Water.”
For Nigeria, however, the night ended in disappointment. Despite strong nominations, no Nigerian artist returned home with a Grammy trophy in 2026. Burna Boy also missed out in the Best Global Music Album category, losing to Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia.
Tyla’s continued success reflects the global shift in how African music is consumed and celebrated. As Afrobeats, Amapiano, and African pop dominate playlists across Europe and the United States, competition among African artists at the Grammys is becoming tighter, signaling a new era for Africa’s sound on the world stage.
