Grammy night said “Push 2 Start”, and Tyla pressed play on another win.
The South African star took home Best African Music Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards for Push 2 Start, beating out a stacked lineup of Nigerian heavyweights in what many fans called one of the most competitive African categories of the night.
If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is.
This marks Tyla’s second win in the category, following her history-making 2024 victory with Water, the very first song to ever win the Grammy for contemporary African music. At this point, she’s not visiting the category… she’s owning it.
Nigeria showed up, just not on the winner’s stage
Nigeria came deep with the talent.
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Burna Boy (Love)
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Ayra Starr & Wizkid (Gimme Dat)
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Davido & Omah Lay (With You)
All nominated. All global. All chart-tested.
But when the envelope opened, it was Tyla’s name again, reaffirming her grip on the category and sparking another round of online debates, think-pieces, and “let’s be honest” Twitter threads.
Another L for Nigeria on the global stage
The night didn’t get easier.
In the Best Global Music Album category, Burna Boy missed out on the win, losing to Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia for Caetano e Bethania Ao Vivo. That sealed it: no Grammy wins for Nigeria in the major international categories this year.
So yes, recognition was there. Nominations were stacked. The presence was loud.
But the trophies? Nowhere to be found.
The Big Three went home empty-handed
For a country often dubbed the engine room of Afrobeats, Grammy night ended on a quiet note. Nigeria’s so-called “Big Three”, artists who dominate charts, tours, and global conversations, left without a single award.
Meanwhile, Tyla continues her Grammy-era run with calm confidence, proving that momentum, timing, and cultural crossover still matter just as much as legacy.
Love it or hate it, one thing is clear:
African music isn’t just competing anymore, it’s evolving. And Tyla is right at the centre of the moment.
