South African singer, Tyla Laura Seethal, better known as Tyla, won the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, beating Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr in one of the night’s most anticipated categories for African music fans.
Tyla won the award for her song ”Push 2 Start”. She topped Burna Boy’s Love, Davido’s With You featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s Gimme Dat, and Hope & Love by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
After her win, Tyla spoke on the red carpet and said she was surprised and grateful to receive the award. This is her second Grammy.
“I’m so grateful this is insane. It just shows how far we can take it, I mean, we really have a chance,” she said
When asked by an interviewer that she was holding up the Afrobeats and sub-Saharan legacy, the singer downplayed the suggestion, saying, “Not really, there’s a lot of us doing it, we are all sharing the weight right now, it’s exciting to be here and watch more of us do crazy things.”
The Best African Music Performance category was added by the Grammys in recent years to recognise African music and artists.
It has become especially important for Nigerian audiences, with high expectations after the global rise of Afrobeats and many nominations for Nigerian acts.
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The ceremony, also witnessed Fela Kuti’s children Femi, Yeni and Kunle Kuti received their father’s lifetime achievement award, honouring the late Afrobeat pioneer whose music and activism laid the foundation for much of today’s global African sound.
American rapper Kendrick Lamar also made history at the event by becoming the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history.
He won Best Rap Album for GNX, bringing his career total to 27 Grammys and passing Jay-Z’s previous record of 25.
“Hip hop is gonna always be right here. We’re gonna be in these suits, we’re gonna be looking good, we’re gonna be having our folks with us, we’re gonna be having our culture with us,” he said while accepting his fourth award of the night.
Earlier in the day, Kendrick Lamar picked up three awards during the premiere ceremony: Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Latin music star Bad Bunny also had a memorable night.
His album Debí Tirar Más Fotos became only the second all-Spanish-language album to be nominated for album of the year, following his own Un Verano Sin Ti three years ago.
He went on to win Best Global Music Performance, Best Música Urbana Album, and Album of the Year for the project.
The ceremony also included political statements. Several artists, including Billie Eilish, Kehlani, and Bad Bunny, wore an ‘ICE out’ pin or made remarks criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during their speeches.
