South African pop sensation Tyla has emerged winner of the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards, beating top Nigerian acts Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr in a fiercely contested field.
The victory was announced on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, during the 68th edition of the Grammy Awards, where Tyla clinched the prize with her record "Push 2 Start".
In the category, she edged out Burna Boy’s "Love", Davido’s "With You" featuring "Omah Lay", as well as the collaborative entry from Ayra Starr and Wizkid, a result that quickly sent ripples across the African music scene.
News of her win triggered an outpouring of reactions on social media, as fans from different parts of the continent and the diaspora flooded X, Instagram, and Facebook with varying opinions ranging from celebration to disappointment.
While South Africans hailed the moment as another major milestone for their music industry, several Nigerian fans expressed frustration, questioning how the country’s globally dominant artistes once again missed out on the prestigious honour.
Tyla’s latest Grammy triumph also marked a significant personal achievement. At 24, she has now secured the award for the second time in a row, having previously won the category in 2024 with her breakout hit Water.
The feat makes her the first performer to claim multiple wins since the category was introduced.
The back-to-back victories have strengthened her position as one of Africa’s most influential young pop stars and highlighted her expanding footprint on the international music stage.
Meanwhile, the result has reignited ongoing conversations within the African music community, particularly in Nigeria, about the standards and considerations used in assessing African music at global award platforms.
As opinions remain divided, Tyla’s sustained success at the Grammys appears to reflect a broader shift in how African music is being packaged, consumed, and rewarded on the world stage.
Watch when she won the Grammy
Congratulations Tyla.
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) February 1, 2026
Best African Music Performance at the #GRAMMYs2026 pic.twitter.com/3tOVfFNYUl
