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South African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, edging out Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Davido and Ayra Starr in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
The award was announced during the premiere ceremony held in Los Angeles, where African music once again took centre stage at the global event. Tyla’s victory marked a major highlight for amapiano and South African pop on the world’s biggest music platform.
Tyla clinched the honour with her hit single “Push 2 Start,” a song praised for its infectious rhythm, polished production and crossover appeal. The win makes her one of the most consistent African performers at the Grammys in recent years.
The category featured strong competition, with Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido’s collaboration with Omah Lay, “With You,” and Ayra Starr’s Wizkid-assisted “Gimme Dat” all nominated. Each of the songs enjoyed commercial success and widespread acclaim across Africa and beyond.
For Davido, the loss extended his run of Grammy nominations without a win, despite being one of Africa’s most streamed and influential artists globally. Ayra Starr, meanwhile, continues to earn recognition as one of the continent’s fastest-rising female stars.
Burna Boy, already a Grammy winner, was widely tipped by fans to add another trophy to his collection, underscoring how competitive the African music category has become since its introduction.
Reactions on social media were swift, with fans celebrating Tyla’s achievement while others expressed disappointment over the Nigerian artistes missing out. The conversations reflected the growing passion and global attention surrounding African music at the Grammys.
Tyla’s win further highlights the expanding influence of African sounds worldwide and reinforces the continent’s strong presence on the international music stage, as more African artistes continue to break barriers and gain global recognition.
Yaw Boagyan
Rafiq Adam
