South African music prodigy Tyla Laura Seethal, widely known as Tyla, was elated as she clinched the golden gramophone for Best African Music Performance, a groundbreaking category introduced at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards.
Competing against formidable Nigerian acts Asake & Olamide‘s ‘Amapiano,’ Burna Boy’s ‘City BoysMiracle,’ Davido featuring Musa Keys with “Unavailable,” and Ayra Starr’s “Rush,” Tyla emerged victorious, accepting the prestigious award from presenter Jimmy Jam during the awards Premiere Ceremony.
In a moment of disbelief on stage, the 22-year-old singer exclaimed, “What the heck?! This is crazy; I never thought I’d say I won a GRAMMY at 22 years old. I know my mother’s crying somewhere in here,” Tyla shared in her heartfelt acceptance speech.
Tyla’s win marked a historic moment as the inaugural recipient of the Best African Music Performance award, a category specifically crafted by the Academy to celebrate musical excellence from the African continent.
Her amapiano-infused pop anthem, ‘Water,’ not only entered the Billboard Hot 100 last year but also reached an impressive No. 7, making her the highest-charting African female solo artist since Hugh Masekala in 1968.
Furthermore, ‘Water’ secured the top spot on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs and Hip-Hop/R&B charts, solidifying Tyla’s position as a trailblazer in the global music scene.