South African singer Tyla has etched her name in Grammy history by clinching the inaugural Best African Music Performance award at the 66th Grammy Awards.
Her track “Water” triumphed over tough competition from Nigerian heavyweights Davido with “Unavailable,” Asake with “Amapiano,” Burna Boy with “City Boys,” and Ayra Starr with “Rush.”
Presented at the Grammy Award Premiere Ceremony, this accolade celebrates excellence across diverse African music genres like Afrobeats, Afropop, and South African Hip Hop.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Tyla, at just 22 years old, expressed her disbelief at winning such a prestigious award. “I never thought I’d say I won a GRAMMY at 22 years old. If you don’t know me, my name is Tyla, I’m from South Africa, and last year God decided to change my whole life.”
She took a moment to thank God, her team, and her family, acknowledging the presence of her tearful mother at the ceremony. Tyla also expressed gratitude to the Recording Academy for introducing this vital category, emphasizing its significance.
Amidst her overwhelming emotions, she joyfully exclaimed, “Thank you to my team, my family. I know my mother’s crying somewhere in here. Thank you to the Recording Academy for this category it’s so important, and I know I’m forgetting some things but I won a GRAMMY!”
Fellow nominees Davido and Ayra Starr joined in to congratulate Tyla on her remarkable achievement.
Released in 2023, “Water” quickly garnered global attention, securing spots in the top 10 charts of 16 countries, including the UK and the US.
