South African sensation, Tyla, has further solidified her global music dominance by winning the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, outshining Nigeria’s top exports, Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid, in a fiercely competitive category.
The award went to Tyla for her viral hit, “Push 2 Start,” which triumphed over a strong lineup including Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido and Omah Lay’s collaboration “With You,” Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” as well as Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love.”
Introduced to celebrate African creativity, the category continues to attract global attention as Afrobeats and African pop enjoy unprecedented mainstream appeal.
Tyla’s victory underscores her rapid ascent in international music circles and reflects South Africa’s growing influence on both the African and global music landscape.
For Nigeria, however, the night was one of disappointment.
Despite multiple nominations across major categories, no Nigerian artist returned home with a Grammy trophy in 2026.
Established stars such as Burna Boy, Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid all fell short, marking a rare year in which Africa’s most influential music nation failed to secure a win.
Burna Boy also faced a setback in the Best Global Music Album category, where his project “No Sign of Weakness” lost to Brazilian icons Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia, whose collaborative live album, “Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo,” claimed the prize.
Tyla’s latest triumph carries historical significance. She is now a two-time winner of the Best African Music Performance category, having first made history in 2024 with “Water,” the inaugural recipient of the award.
Her back-to-back wins highlight her consistency, growing global acceptance, and the increasing space for African female artists on the world stage.
With chart-topping hits and an expanding international fan base, Tyla’s rise exemplifies a broader shift in how African music is consumed and celebrated globally.
As Afrobeats, Amapiano, and African pop continue to dominate playlists across Europe and the United States, competition among African stars at the Grammys is intensifying, signalling a new era for the continent’s music worldwide.
Full list of nominees for Best African Music Performance 2026:
Tyla – “Push 2 Start”
Burna Boy – “Love”
Davido & Omah Lay – “With You”
Ayra Starr & Wizkid – “Gimme Dat”
Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin – “Hope & Love”
