Again, Tyla Makes History, Beats Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy at 2026 Grammys

South African star Tyla has retained the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, once again edging out top Nigerian Afrobeats heavyweights including Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy.

The 66th Grammy Awards ceremony held on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles saw Tyla’s hit single “Push 2 Start” clinch the coveted prize, defeating strong contenders from Nigeria and East Africa.

Five Nigerian artistes — Burna Boy, Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid — had earned nominations in the category. Their entries included Davido’s “With You” featuring Omah Lay, Ayra Starr’s “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid, and Burna Boy’s “Love.” Also nominated was “Hope & Love” by Ugandan star Eddy Kenzo featuring Mehran Matin.

Despite Nigeria’s strong showing, none of the nominees secured a win on the night.

Burna Boy, who also picked up a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category for his project “No Sign of Weakness,” missed out on that award as well. The category was won by Brazilian music icons Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia for their joint album “Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo.”

Tyla’s victory marks the second consecutive time she has outperformed Nigerian artistes in the Best African Music Performance category since its introduction in 2024. With the latest win, she becomes the first artiste to win the category twice, cementing her dominance in the newly created Grammy field