In a groundbreaking moment for African music on the world stage, South African singer Tyla secured her place in Grammy history Sunday night, becoming the first artist to win Best African Music Performance twice since the Recording Academy introduced the category.
The 24-year-old Johannesburg native accepted the golden gramophone at the Crypto.com Arena for her infectious single “Push 2 Start,” exactly one year after claiming the inaugural award in the same category for her breakout hit “Water,” which catapulted her to international stardom in 2024.
The consecutive wins represent more than personal achievement—they mark a pivotal moment in the Recording Academy’s evolving recognition of African music’s global impact. The Best African Music Performance category, established only in 2024, was created to honor recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent, highlighting regional melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic musical traditions.
Speaking to Billboard moments after her win, an emotional Tyla reflected on the significance of her achievement for artists from the continent. “I’m so grateful. This is insane,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “It just shows me how far we can take it. Being from where I’m from, we really have a chance, and that’s just amazing.”
But Tyla’s message extended beyond celebration. The artist, who has rapidly become one of Africa’s most prominent international ambassadors, called for continued expansion of opportunities for her peers across the continent.
“When I was young, I wanted to see my girls getting Grammys and everything, and we’ve got that, but we need more,” she emphasized. “I’m excited to see the rest of our African superstars who are killing it right now be there as well. We are coming.”
Her words underscore a broader movement in the global music industry, where African sounds—from Afrobeats and Amapiano to Afro-pop and beyond—have increasingly dominated charts and streaming platforms worldwide. Artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems have paved the way, but Tyla’s historic double victory suggests the momentum is only accelerating.
Industry observers note that Tyla’s success represents both artistic excellence and strategic cultural positioning. Her blend of Amapiano rhythms with contemporary pop sensibilities has resonated with international audiences while maintaining authentic connections to South African musical traditions.
As the ceremony concluded, Tyla’s achievement stood as both a personal milestone and a powerful statement about the future of global music—one where African artists are not merely participants but standard-bearers, breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible on the world’s most prestigious musical stage.
With her message that “we are coming,” Tyla has made clear that her historic wins are not the culmination of African music’s global journey, but rather an opening chapter in a much larger story still being written.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tyla has made Grammy history as the first artist to win Best African Music Performance twice, claiming the award in both 2024 (“Water”) and 2025 (“Push 2 Start”). Her back-to-back victories represent a breakthrough moment for African music on the global stage, and her call for more recognition of African artists signals that this success is just the beginning of a larger movement toward continental representation in mainstream music.
