South African sensation Tyla has just clinched a Grammy Award in the Best African Music Performance category, winning over big competitors like Nigeria’s Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Strrr, and Asake at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The talented artist, full name Tyla Laura Seethal, was overjoyed as her name was announced as the winner. Who wouldn’t be?
In a moment of utter disbelief and excitement, Tyla said: “Oh my! What the heck? What? Oh my gosh! Guys, this is crazy. I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 22 years old. Guys, you don’t know me. My name is Tyla. I’m from South Africa, and last year God decided to change my whole life. So, thank you so much to God, thank you to my team, my family. I know my mother’s crying somewhere in here.”
The excited artist expressed that winning the award was an incredible feeling. “It’s gonna be saying it all the time now. I am just so excited, and it’s just an honour. It’s the first time the category has been introduced, so it just means too much more being the first winner of this category.”
Tyla, known for being an advocate of African music, shared her love for the genre.
“I love African music, and its music that I make and listen to all the time, and I believed in it for so long. I am just happy that it’s getting its recognition now.”
Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Zizi Kodwa extended congratulations to Tyla for her historic Grammy win.
“Tyla is a proud ambassador of South African arts and culture. I congratulate Tyla for a historic Grammy Award win, which comes before she has even released a full album. Continue to inspire and raise the South African flag high.”
Aww…some support from the government that allowed you to set your own path while they sat back and watched and is now jumping on the bandwagon is nice we suppose.
Tyla’s single ‘Water’ made history by breaking into Spotify’s top 40 global playlist with over 40 million streams. The song also entered the Apple Music US chart at number 82, making it the highest-charting song by a South African artist since Master KG’s ‘Jerusalema.’
After this significant achievement, Tyla signed a recording contract with Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records in the United States.
Main image: TimesLIVE
