South African music star Tyla has made history at the 2026 American Music Awards after clinching two major awards at the prestigious ceremony.
The singer, born Tyla Laura Seethal, won the Best Afrobeats Artist category, defeating top African acts including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema and Moliy.
She also secured the fan-voted Social Song of the Year award for her hit single, “Chanel,” becoming the only African artiste to win at the 52nd edition of the AMAs.
Tyla entered the night as the most nominated African act in AMA history with four nominations, further cementing her growing global influence.
Released in October 2025, “Chanel” became a massive commercial success, dominating streaming platforms and music charts worldwide. The song has reportedly amassed more than 320 million Spotify streams and also earned nominations for Best Music Video and Best Female R&B Artist.
The Johannesburg-born singer first gained international recognition in 2023 with her breakout single “Water,” which blended R&B with South African Amapiano sounds.
The song quickly became a viral sensation across social media platforms and later broke into the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, helping launch her self-titled debut album and global career.
Tyla’s latest AMA triumph adds to an already impressive list of achievements. She previously won a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with “Water” and also claimed MTV Video Music Awards for Best Afrobeats Video in both 2024 and 2025.
The singer is also set for the 2026 BET Awards in June, where she has earned two nominations, including a historic Video of the Year nod.
Reports further indicate that Tyla is currently preparing to release her second studio album in July.
