South African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, defeating a strong field that included Nigerian superstars Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr.

Tyla claimed the prestigious honor with her hit single “Push 2 Start,” which resonated with Grammy voters and prevailed over notable competitors including Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido’s “With You” featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” and “Hope & Love” by Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.

The Best African Music Performance category was introduced by the Recording Academy to celebrate and amplify African sounds on the global stage. This year’s nominations once again highlighted the continent’s growing influence in world music and the increasing recognition of African artists at one of music’s most prestigious award ceremonies.

Nigerian artists maintained a dominant presence in the category, with three of the five nominated acts hailing from the West African nation. The strong showing by Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr reaffirmed Nigeria’s continued impact on the global music scene, even as the award ultimately went to a South African artist.

Tyla’s victory further cements her rapidly rising international profile following her breakthrough success. The win also underscores South Africa’s growing contribution to Africa’s global music export, demonstrating that the continent’s musical influence extends well beyond the Afrobeats genre that has dominated recent international attention.

The 2026 Grammy Awards continue the Recording Academy’s efforts to recognize the diversity, creativity, and reach of African music, with the dedicated category providing a platform for artists from across the continent to gain recognition on one of the world’s biggest stages.

For Tyla, the Grammy win represents a major milestone in what has been a meteoric rise in the international music industry, positioning her as one of Africa’s most promising global stars.