South African singer, Tyla, made history at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards as the first artist to win the Recording Academy’s newest category, “Best African Music Performance,” for her song “Water.”
Tyla, 22, rose to fame in 2023 after her hit song ‘Water’ went viral across the globe starting interesting social media challenges, especially on TikTok and Instagram.
“I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 22 years old,” Tyla said as she accepted the award. “Thank you to the Recording Academy for this category. It’s so important,” Tyla said on stage while receiving the award.
The “Best African Music Performance” category was introduced as part of the 2024 Grammy Awards to give recognition to the increasing global influence of African music.
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The ‘Water’ singer was nominated alongside ASAKE & Olamide, Burna Boy, Davido featuring Musa Keys and Ayra Starr. The nominees were a stellar representation of the continent’s musical diversity and innovation. January, Tyla’s hit single peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The influence of African music on the global has been on a steady rise despite language barriers. Artists like Burnaboy, Asake, Olamide, Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Davido, Sarkodie, and Stonebwoy have been at the forefront of this movement.
Their efforts have influenced young musicians like Tyla to mix influences from traditional African tunes with modern appeals to create music that resonates universally.
Watch Tyla’s speech at the GRAMMY’s below: