South African singer Tyla has won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for her song ‘Push 2 Start’. She triumphed over a field of strong Nigerian contenders, including Burna Boy (‘Love’), Davido (‘With You’ featuring Omah Lay), and Ayra Starr & Wizkid (‘Gimme Dat’). This marks Tyla’s second win in the category, having been the inaugural recipient in 2024 for her global hit ‘Water’. The result means Nigerian artists left the 66th Grammy Awards without a win, despite significant representation across key categories.
Key Points:
The win solidifies Tyla’s status as a dominant force in contemporary African pop music on the global stage.
It highlights the competitive and diverse nature of the African music landscape, where success is no longer regionally concentrated.
The loss for Nigeria’s top stars underscores the high stakes and unpredictability of global award ceremonies, despite massive commercial success.
The outcome may fuel domestic debates about the strategic promotion and international positioning of Nigerian music.
Tyla’s repeat victory demonstrates the consistent appeal of her musical style to the Recording Academy’s voting members.
While celebrating Tyla’s achievement, the result brings a reflective moment for the Nigerian music industry, analyzing its pathway to securing future Grammy recognition.
Sources: Punch Nigeria, Billboard, CNN