It was a night of pride and celebration for South Africa as Tyla once again stamped her name into Grammy history. Just days after celebrating her 24th birthday, the singer officially clinched her second Grammy Award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles.
Tyla took home the award for Best African Music Performance with her hit single, “Push 2 Start.” The win is a major milestone, making her the first artist to win this category twice since it was introduced in 2024, a clear sign of her growing influence on the global music stage.
This year’s category was stacked with some of Africa’s biggest names. Tyla edged past Nigeria’s Burna Boy with “Love,” Davido featuring Omah Lay on “With You,” and Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid on “Gimme Dat.” Uganda was also well represented with Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love.” In the end, Tyla’s record stood out as the judges’ favorite.
Released on 11 October 2024, “Push 2 Start” quickly became a defining moment in Tyla’s career. The song served as the lead single for “TYLA +,” the deluxe edition of her self-titled debut album. Produced by Sammy Soso, Ari PenSmith, and Mocha, the track is a smooth blend of Amapiano, Pop, and R&B, a sound fans now instantly associate with Tyla. Often described as Popiano, the genre fusion has helped her carve out a unique lane in contemporary African pop music.
The road to Grammy glory began with a viral tease at the 2024 MTV VMAs, which sparked massive online buzz. That momentum only grew with the release of its sleek music video, directed by Aerin Moreno, which premiered in November 2024. Strong performances on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart throughout late 2024 and 2025 further cemented the song’s impact.
With two Grammy wins now under her belt and a sound that continues to resonate globally, Tyla’s rise shows no signs of slowing down. From Johannesburg to Los Angeles, her journey is a powerful reminder that African music is not just being heard worldwide; it is winning.
