Joeboy Defends Tyla’s Grammy Win, Insists South African Star Deserved Award

|By Queen Banigo

Nigerian singer Joeboy has defended the controversial Grammy victory of South African singer Tyla, insisting that the award-winning artist fully deserved her triumph.

Tyla sparked widespread debate after clinching the Best African Music Performance category at the Grammy Awards in February 2026 with her hit song “Push 2 Start.” Her victory came ahead of several Nigerian heavyweights including Davido, Omah Lay, Wizkid, Ayra Starr and Burna Boy, triggering mixed reactions across the African music scene.

Reacting to the controversy in a recent interview with Jay On-Air, Joeboy acknowledged that while he had personally hoped Davido would win the award, Tyla’s victory was well-earned.

According to him, critics questioning her credibility overlooked the dedication and effort behind her success.

“Personally, I was rooting for Davido to win the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammys, but you can’t take it away from Tyla,” Joeboy said.

“She is an amazing artist whether you accept it or not. She really put in the work. People can be angry all they want but she deserved the Grammy win. I can’t fault her triumph.”

The Nigerian singer further praised Tyla’s artistry and work ethic, revealing that she is among the artists he hopes to collaborate with in the future.

Joeboy said a partnership with the South African star would be exciting, given her talent and growing influence in the global music industry.