South African music sensation Tyla has received a nomination at the Urban Music Awards (UMA) for her directorial debut. The remix of her hit song Push 2 Start, which features dancehall legend Sean Paul, has been recognised at the prestigious event.
Tyla co-directed the music video alongside Taylor Fauntleroy, marking a new creative milestone in her career. The video, released in early March, has already racked up over seven million views on YouTube.
The Urban Music Awards were founded in the UK in 2003 and later expanded to the US in 2007, the Caribbean in 2008, and Asia in 2009. Now, the awards have officially launched in South Africa, with the ceremony set to take place at Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria this May, according to The Citizen.
Jordan Kensington, founder and president of the UMAs, highlighted the importance of this expansion.
“The launch of UMA South Africa is more than an awards ceremony—it’s a movement to empower South African artists with the tools to brand, monetise, and transcend global audiences across Europe, Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa,” he said.
The event will be streamed live to audiences worldwide via VooVix TV, a free-to-watch streaming service
In addition to her nomination for the Push 2 Start remix, Tyla is also up for Artist of the Year. She faces tough competition from fellow South African stars Kabza De Small, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Kelvin Momo, and rapper K.O.
Tyla has also been nominated in the Best Female Act category, which features some of the biggest female artists in South Africa, including DJ Zinhle, Makhadzi, Ami Faku, and Uncle Waffles.
The UMAs aim to honour musicians across various genres, with categories such as Best Gqom Act, Best Maskandi Act, and Best Producer. The awards also acknowledge media platforms, including Best Music Television Show and Best Radio Station.
The Best Radio Station category includes popular shows like The Roger Good Show on 5FM, DJ Sbu’s Breakfast Show on Radio 2000, Proverb and Lerato Kganyago’s midday show on Metro FM, and Lula Odiba’s hip-hop show on 5FM.
Cressida Oppenheimer, Head of Global Partnerships at UMA and Official World Charts, emphasised the impact of the awards on South African music.
“We are thrilled to expand the Urban Music Awards and Official World Charts into South Africa. This expansion is a game-changer, offering South African artists an unparalleled opportunity to succeed on a global stage.”
She also highlighted the economic potential of music tourism, which includes album sales, concerts, tours, festivals, and merchandise.
“Music tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and our mission is to ensure South African music reaps the rewards worldwide.”
