Global hitmaker Sean Paul continues to prove his staying power in the industry, earning a nomination for Best Music Video (South Africa) at the upcoming 2025 Urban Music Awards (UMA) alongside South African sensation Tyla. The duo’s electrifying collaboration on Push 2 Start (Remix) has taken the charts by storm, with the music video amassing over 6.8 million YouTube views in just three weeks since its release on March 3. As the Urban Music Awards prepare to make their historic debut in South Africa, Tyla has emerged as the event’s frontrunner, securing an impressive seven nominations—including Artist of the Year (South Africa) and International Artist of the Year (Africa).
Tyla’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of phenomenal. The Water singer recently became the first African solo artist to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify, cementing her status as a global force. Her collaboration with Sean Paul is further evidence of Afrobeats and Dancehall’s crossover appeal, blending their signature styles into a rhythmic masterpiece that fans can’t get enough of. Sean Paul, a legend in his own right, holds the distinction of being the only dancehall artist with four singles surpassing 1 billion views on YouTube and Spotify, including Temperature, No Lie, Cheap Thrills, and Rockabye. His unmistakable sound continues to bridge cultures, and teaming up with Tyla only reinforces the growing synergy between African and Caribbean music.
Speaking on the significance of the awards’ expansion into South Africa, UMA founder Jordan Kensington stated, “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, monetize and transcend audiences across Europe, Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa.” The event, set for May 4 at Pretoria’s Heartfelt Arena, will not only celebrate established artists like Sean Paul and Tyla but also offer a platform for emerging talent, with a competition to find “South Africa’s next superstar.”
With voting open until May 2, anticipation is at an all-time high for what promises to be a milestone moment in music.
Full list of Tyla’s nominations:
- Artist of the Year (South Africa)
- Best Female Act (South Africa)
- Best Album (South Africa) – Tyla
- Best Music Video (South Africa) – Push 2 Start (Remix) Tyla, Sean Paul
- Best Viral Breakthrough Song – Water
- International Artist of the Year (Africa)
- Best International Collaboration – No.1 (Tyla, Tems)
