Congratulations are in order for South African singer Tyla who has just conquered one of the most competitive categories celebrating African music on the global stage. She won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for “PUSH 2 START,” her 2024 amapiano, reggae-inspired single that became a global phenomenon thanks to social media.
The award was presented during the Grammys Premiere Ceremony (the live telecast streamed on YouTube ahead of the main event) but Tyla was unable to receive it in person due to her presence at the red carpet.
“PUSH 2 START” triumphed over other global sounds like Burna Boy’s “Love,” Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” and Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” proving its undeniable cross-border reach.
With this win, Tyla becomes a two-time Grammy winner,and in the same category. At the inaugural presentation of the Best African Music Performance award in 2024, she won for the global sensation “Water.” She now holds the record for the most wins in the category.
“PUSH 2 START” debuted at No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100, crowning her as the second female African artiste to achieve multiple entries on the chart (three), the first being the legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba (two). The single also peaked at No. 1 on both the Billboard U.S Afrobeats Songs chart and the UK Afrobeats Singles chart. Currently, it sits at No. 5 on the Billboard U.S Afrobeats Songs chart.
Although the internet remains divided over whether Tyla should have taken home the award, there is no denying that the RIAA-Gold- certified single made a significant global impact, a key hallmark of what the Best African Music Performance seeks to recognize.