The legendary Afrobeat creator, Fela Kuti, became the first African artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. While South African star, Tyla won Best African Music Performance again as female artists continue to dominate the category for the third consecutive year.
African musicians shined at the 68th Grammy Awards. South African star Tyla extended her record in the Best African Music Performance category.
Tyla, 24, won Best African Music Performance for her hit single “Push 2 Start,” becoming the first singer to claim the category twice. She previously won the inaugural award in 2024 with her global breakout hit “Water.”
Nigeria’s Tems won the prize in 2025, which means the category has now been dominated exclusively by female artistes for three consecutive years. Tyla said the recognition was about opening doors for other young African women.
“It just shows me how far we can take it… being from where I’m from, we really have a chance,” she said during a backstage interview after her win.
She hopes to see more African women winning global awards.
“When I was young, I wanted to see my girls there, getting Grammys and everything. And we got that. But we need more,” said Tyla.
Tyla’s success is following a path first carved by Angélique Kidjo, the Benin-born music icon and the most Grammy-decorated African musician in history. Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, beginning in 2008 with Best Contemporary World Music Album for Djin Djin, followed by three Best World Music Album honors and her latest, the Best Global Music Album award in 2022 for Mother Nature, a project that featured collaborations with new-generation African pop stars including Burna Boy and Mr Eazi.
Tyla’s rise has been fuelled by her ability to blend amapiano, pop and R&B into a global sound. She described “Push 2 Start” as a special record, praising its creative direction and visual storytelling, which helped it resonate with audiences worldwide.
“Honestly, ‘Push to Start’ is such a special song. Like, from the moment we heard it, we knew that it was going to be magical,” she said.
The song lifted from her self-titled debut album ‘Tyla’ released in 2024, has gained traction through streaming platforms and viral dance challenges, combining amapiano rhythms with polished pop production and themes of romance and self-confidence.
It topped the US Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for 20 non-consecutive weeks, held No. 1 on the UK Afrobeats Singles chart, and debuted at No. 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The 2026 category featured stiff competition from some of Africa’s biggest stars, including Burna Boy (Love), Davido featuring Omah Lay (With You), Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love), and Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid (Gimme Dat).
Nigeria had the highest representation on the list lead by Burna Boy (with 13 nominations and two wins), Davido (five nominations), Omah Lay (one nomination), Ayra Starr (two nominations).
Burna Boy had two nominations, one for Best African Music Performance for “Love” and Best Global Music Album for ‘No Sign of Weakness,’ making him the highest-nominated African artist in the 2026 cycle.
The Best African Music Performance category, introduced by the Recording Academy in 2024, is reflecting a major shift in how African music is recognised by the global music industry.
For decades, African artistes were largely grouped under the broad “world music” label. The new category acknowledges African music, reflecting its commercial success, cultural relevance and growing global influence.
Nigerian-American pop artist Shaboozey has carved a niche for himself in country music. He won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his single “Amen,” alongside Jelly Roll.
In a historic first for African music, Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the creator of Afrobeat, was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards ceremony held on the eve of the main event.
Fela became the first African music artist to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been presented since 1963 to other icons including American singer and actor Bing Crosby. Crosby ranked among the most popular and impactful musical figures of the 20th century.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu paid tribute to Fela, describing him as more than a musician, saying the late artist’s cultural impact had made him immortal.
“Fela was a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound,” Tinubu said in a statement.
“In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal. Fela lives,” the statement read further.
The award was accepted on Fela’s behalf by his children, Femi, Yeni and Kunle Kuti. In his remarks, Femi Kuti said the recognition was not only important for their family but for Africa and the wider struggle for justice and peace.
Born Olufela Ransome Kuti in 1938 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Fela pioneered Afrobeat in the 1960s alongside drummer Tony Allen, blending West African rhythms, jazz, funk, and soul with politically charged lyrics.
Over three decades, he released more than 50 albums and used his music to criticise military rule, corruption and imperialism while promoting pan-Africanism. While Kuti’s “afrobeat” genre is very different from today’s afrobeats,” it has had a major influence on it.
The Academy said the award recognises performers who have made outstanding artistic contributions to the recording field over their lifetimes.
“It’s a true honor to recognize this year’s Special Merit Award recipients, an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres and the very foundation of modern music,” said Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer, Harvey Mason Jr.
bird story agency
Summary not available at this time.
