By Desire Emmanuel
South African musician, Tyla, has won the ‘Best African Music Performance’ award at this year’s Grammy Awards, held on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, United States.
The singer, who recently clocked 24, clinched the prize with her song, Push 2 Start, marking her second win in the category.
She previously won the same award in the inaugural 2024 edition for her song, Water, becoming the first artiste to win the title twice since the category was introduced.
She beat other nominees who included Burna Boy (Love), Davido featuring Omah Lay (With You), Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid (Gimme Dat), and Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).
The Best African Music Performance category was created in 2024 to recognise recordings that showcase African music.
This year’s category featured a strong line-up dominated by African heavyweights, particularly from Nigeria.
Her song, “Push 2 Start,” lifted from her self-titled debut album ‘Tyla’ released in 2024, gained widespread popularity through streaming platforms and social media dance challenges.
The song combines amapiano rhythms with polished pop production and themes centred on romance and self-confidence.
This year’s Grammys also meant a great deal for African music, with legendary Nigerian musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, honoured posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award the night before, shining a light on the continent’s cultural influence.
