Las Vegas, May 26, 2026 – By Prosper Mene
South African sensation Tyla continued her meteoric rise on the global stage Monday night, taking home two prestigious trophies at the 52nd American Music Awards.
The 23-year-old artist won Best Afrobeats Artist, beating strong competition from Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, and MOLIY. She also claimed Social Song of the Year for her hit single “CHANEL,” marking a historic fan-voted victory.
Tyla’s double win shows her growing influence in blending amapiano, pop, and R&B sounds, further cementing her status as one of Africa’s most successful exports to the international music scene. “CHANEL,” the lead single from her upcoming project A POP, has been a massive hit, driving significant social media engagement that translated into the Social Song award.
In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram following the wins, Tyla expressed gratitude to her fans: “Chanel is the first single off A🌀POP and we already bagged 2X AMA’s…. Haaaaa. I get so much love and support from you guys that I will forever be grateful for.”
This victory adds to Tyla’s impressive trophy cabinet. She now boasts three AMA wins overall — the most by any African artist — after previously securing Favorite Afrobeats Artist in 2025. Her success comes amid ongoing conversations about genre classification, as Tyla has at times identified more closely with amapiano, yet continues to dominate the Afrobeats category.
The 52nd AMAs, hosted by Queen Latifah in Las Vegas, celebrated fan-favorite artists across various genres, with Tyla’s wins highlighting the increasing prominence of African music on major U.S. platforms.
Fans and industry watchers have flooded social media with congratulations, hailing the moment as a proud one for South Africa and the broader African continent. Many see Tyla’s achievements as a breakthrough for diverse sounds gaining mainstream recognition.
Congratulations to Tyla on this well-deserved double victory, As she prepares to release more music from A🌀POP, the future looks exceptionally bright for the Water hitmaker.
