South African star Tyla has once again etched her name into Grammy history, winning Best African Music Performance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards with her single “Push 2 Start.”
The win, announced during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, marks Tyla’s second victory in the category, making her the first artist to achieve the feat since the award was introduced in 2024.
At just 24 years old, Tyla outpaced a formidable lineup of African heavyweights, including Burna Boy, Davido featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid, and Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo. Her triumph has been widely celebrated in South Africa, while also stirring debate across the continent about representation and voting trends at the Grammys.
Despite Nigerian artists’ strong global streaming numbers and chart dominance, none managed to take home the award this year, a result that quickly became a talking point among fans and industry observers.
Tyla’s success has been attributed to her genre-blending sound, which effortlessly combines amapiano rhythms with pop and R&B influences, appealing to audiences far beyond Africa. Since emerging from Johannesburg and signing an international record deal in 2021, she has enjoyed rapid global growth, including a top-25 debut on the Billboard 200 and multiple international chart entries.
With back-to-back Grammy wins now under her belt, Tyla continues to strengthen her position as one of Africa’s most impactful global music exports.
