Tyla Beats Davido, Burna Boy to Win Best African Music Performance at Grammys
South African pop star Tyla has made history again by 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.
The 24-year-old singer beat a strong field that included Nigerian stars Davido, Burna Boy, and Ayra Starr with her hit single Push 2 Start, becoming the first artiste to win the category twice since its introduction in 2024.
Tyla previously won the inaugural award with her global breakout single Water, which propelled her to international fame.
The category, launched by the Recording Academy to celebrate excellence in African musical styles and cultural expression, has quickly become one of the most anticipated awards for fans and industry watchers across Africa and the diaspora.
Tyla’s back-to-back wins have drawn attention to her distinctive sound, which blends amapiano, pop, and R&B.
Push 2 Start, from her self-titled debut album released in 2024, achieved massive streaming success and viral popularity through social media dance challenges, further cementing her international appeal.
This year’s category was fiercely contested, particularly by Nigerian heavyweights.
Davido was nominated for With You, a collaboration with Omah Lay, Burna Boy for Love, and Ayra Starr for Gimme Dat, featuring Wizkid.
Other nominees included Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
The strong Nigerian presence underscored the country’s dominance in African music, even as Tyla claimed the award.
Since emerging from Johannesburg and signing with an international label in 2021, Tyla has reached several global milestones, including a top-25 debut on the Billboard 200 and multiple chart-topping singles.
The 68th Grammy Awards also celebrated African music more broadly.
Legendary Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti was honoured posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a special ceremony the night before the main event, highlighting Africa’s lasting influence on the global music stage.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
