South African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The 24-year-old artiste clinched the prize with her hit single “Push 2 Start,” securing her second win in the category and making history as the first artist to achieve the feat since the award was introduced.
Tyla previously won the inaugural Best African Music Performance award in 2024 for her global breakout hit “Water,” a track that propelled her to international stardom.
Her latest Grammy win further cements her growing influence on the global music scene and reinforces her status as one of Africa’s most successful contemporary pop exports.
The Best African Music Performance category was created in 2024 to celebrate recordings that authentically showcase African music and creativity. Tyla’s success has drawn widespread attention to her distinctive sound, which blends amapiano, pop, and R&B in a way that resonates with international audiences.
“Push 2 Start,” lifted from her self-titled debut album Tyla, released in 2024, gained massive popularity through streaming platforms and viral dance challenges on social media. The song fuses amapiano rhythms with sleek pop production, exploring themes of romance and self-confidence.
Highly Contested Category
This year’s award category featured stiff competition from some of Africa’s biggest music stars, particularly from Nigeria. Other nominees included Burna Boy (Love), Davido featuring Omah Lay (With You), Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid (Gimme Dat), and Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).
Beyond her Grammy success, Tyla’s rise reflects a remarkable career trajectory. Since emerging from Johannesburg and signing with an international record label in 2021, she has reached major commercial milestones, including a top-25 debut on the Billboard 200 and sustained global chart success with “Water.”
The 68th Grammy Awards also marked a significant moment for African music as a whole. Legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti was honoured posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award on the eve of the ceremony, further spotlighting Africa’s enduring cultural impact on the global stage.
