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South African singer Tyla has emerged winner of the Best African Music Performance category 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 award with her song Push 2 Start, marking her second victory in the category. She previously won the maiden edition of the award in 2024 with her global hit Water, making her the first artiste to secure the title twice since its introduction.
The latest feat further cements Tyla’s growing influence on the global music stage and reinforces her status as one of Africa’s most successful contemporary pop exports.
The Best African Music Performance category was introduced in 2024 to celebrate recordings that highlight the richness and diversity of African music. Tyla’s back-to-back wins have drawn attention to her distinctive sound, which blends amapiano, pop and R&B in a style that resonates with international audiences.
Push 2 Start, taken from her self-titled debut album Tyla released in 2024, gained massive traction across streaming platforms and social media, driven largely by viral dance challenges. The track fuses amapiano rhythms with polished pop production, exploring themes of romance and self-confidence.
Highly contested category
This year’s award category featured stiff competition, dominated by leading African acts, 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 the Grammy win, Tyla’s success underscores a rapid rise in her career. Since emerging from Johannesburg and signing with an international label in 2021, she has recorded major milestones, including a top-25 debut on the Billboard 200 and sustained global chart success with Water.
The 68th Grammy Awards also proved significant for African music, as legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award on the eve of the ceremony, highlighting the enduring global impact of the continent’s cultural heritage.
