South African music star Tyla has continued her global rise after winning two major honours at the 2026 American Music Awards held in Las Vegas.
The singer secured the Best Afrobeats Artist award for the second consecutive year, beating strong competition from some of Africa’s biggest names, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema and Moliy in the fan-voted category.
She also made history by becoming the first international artist to win Social Song of the Year for her viral hit Chanel, further cementing her growing influence on the global music scene.
The 52nd edition of the awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and was hosted by legendary rapper and actress Queen Latifah, who returned to the AMAs stage more than three decades after first co-hosting the show in 1995.
Although Tyla did not attend the ceremony in person, her presence was strongly felt throughout the night as her name continued to trend across social media platforms and global music conversations.
Her hit single Chanel, which focuses on confidence and self-worth, has already surpassed hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify and reached the Top 10 on the global chart, reflecting her growing international appeal and crossover success.
The achievement also marks another milestone in her career, making her the first African artist to earn multiple Top 10 entries on the global Spotify charts.
The AMAs are determined through a combination of public voting, streaming data, sales performance and social engagement, making Tyla’s back-to-back wins a strong indicator of her expanding global fanbase, often referred to as the “Tygers.”
Now a four-time AMA winner, Tyla has also become the most nominated African artist in the history of the awards, further solidifying her position as one of the continent’s most successful global exports in recent years.
