Tyla Snatches Grammy from Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr

South African singer Tyla has won her second Grammy, taking home the Best African Music Performance award.

The 24-year-old artist won for her song Push 2 Start, beating four other nominees, including three Nigerian stars, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and Davido, as well as Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo. This is Tyla’s second win in the category; she previously won in 2024 for her global hit Water, again surpassing several popular Nigerian artists.

After the awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Tyla shared her excitement, saying, “This is insane, this is so insane! I’m just so lucky to be here, and I’m so proud to be African. I’m excited to see more of us over here.”

Her win quickly sparked celebrations on social media, with hashtags like “Congratulations Tyla” trending in South Africa and beyond. One X user wrote, “South Africa is proud of you! We are proud of you!” Another added that while they had hoped Ayra Starr would win, they recognized Tyla’s hard work: “You deserve it.”

The full list of nominees in the Best African Music Performance category included:

Love – Burna Boy, With You – Davido featuring Omah Lay, Hope & Love – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin, Gimme Dat – Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid and Push 2 Start – Tyla

Despite the global popularity of Afrobeats, none of the Nigerian artists won, leaving many fans disappointed. Davido’s loss, in particular, drew reactions online, as did Burna Boy, who was nominated for Best Global Music Album alongside Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour. Angelique Kidjo was also nominated for Best Global Music Performance, but none of them won the iconic Grammy statuette.

However, one Nigerian star was honored: Fela Kuti received a Lifetime Achievement Award, 29 years after his death.

South African comedian Trevor Noah also had a notable night, hosting the main ceremony for the sixth and final time. His performance sparked controversy, as former US President Donald Trump threatened legal action over jokes about him and Jeffrey Epstein.