At the age of 22, Tyla has made history by becoming the youngest South African and the youngest African to win a Grammy Award.
South African singer, Tyla, on Sunday, has won the award for the Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammy.
The female rapper beat off competition from Nigerian acts – David Adeleke, aka Davido; Ahmed Ololade, aka Asake; and Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy.
Tyla’s ‘Water’ saw off songs by Davido’s ‘Unavailable,’ Asake’s ‘Amapiano,’ Burna Boy’s ‘City Boys,’ and Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush.’
Here are 10 Interesting Facts About South African Singer, Tyla
01 TYLA IS A SOUTH AFRICAN BREED
Tyla Laura Seethai is a South African singer born on January 20th, 2002 in Johannesburg. She gained international recognition for South African music and started her professional music career at 17 years old.
02 ONCE GAVE UP ON MUSIC
Despite her parents’ support, Tyla initially believed her musical talent was only suited for small events and gatherings. She even abandoned her music dreams for a regular job. However, she soon realized that music was her true calling and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
03 GAINED CELEBRITY ATTENTION
In her pursuit of a music career, Tyla boldly sent her demos to numerous celebrities, hoping for a breakthrough. While her demos went unnoticed by most, American singer Normani took notice after hearing her song “Water,” resulting in a significant breakthrough for Tyla.
04 HER “NO BUDGET” DEBUT MUSIC VIDEO”GETTING LATE” EARNED HER HER FIRST NOMINATION
Tyla’s debut music video for “Getting Late” was created with no budget, shot in Johannesburg and Cape Town. It received acclaim and earned her a nomination at the South African Music Awards.
05 SHE IS SIGNED TO EPIC RECORDS
She is currently signed to Epic Records, a label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, and has released seven songs, including the popular track “Water.”
06 HER SONG OVERDUE WAS USED AS SOUNDTRACK ON NETFLIX’S BLOOD AND WATER
Tyla’s song “Overdue” featured in the South African Netflix series, “Blood and Water,” portraying a teenager’s quest to uncover family secrets.
07 SHE IS INSPIRED BY BEYONCE
Beyoncé is one of Tyla’s biggest inspirations, and she dreams of performing on the same stages and being mentioned alongside her.
08 HER DREAM COLLABORATIONS ARE REMA,CHLOE X BALLE, BEYONCE
Inspired by their early start and undeniable talent, she dreams of working alongside artists like Rema, Chloe x Halle, and even the iconic Beyonce herself.
09 TOURED WITH CHRIS BROWN
Within just four years of her career, Tyla achieved the incredible feat of touring with renowned artist Chris Brown. She opened for him, wowing audiences with her performance of “Water” at the iconic O2 arena. This accomplishment showcased her dedication and hard work.
10 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Tyla’s fame skyrocketed when her song “Water” went viral on TikTok and topped music charts globally. This success made her the first South African solo artist in 55 years to enter the US Billboard Hot 100. As a result, she received her first musical award and a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance at The African Entertainment Awards USA.
