Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa has congratulated the Johannesburg-born singer, Tyla, for the big win. This weekend singer and record breaker Tyla Laura Seetha walked off with the Best African Music Performance at the 66th Grammys for her Amapiano song, Water. The awards were held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. 

"Tyla's Grammy Award win once again confirms her status as a music global superstar. Her meteoric success has been truly inspiring and there is so much more to come," Kodwa said, adding that 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 to raise the South African flag high."

22 WITH A GRAMMY

Tyla was up against giants Burna Boy, Asake, Davido, Olamide, Ayra Starr, and Musa Keys in the category but came tops. She was handed the award by music producer, Jimmy Jam. Sashaying onto the stage in a custom Versace dress with a Fela Kuti, Water, No Get Enemy, playing in the background, Tyla said in her speech that she never saw herself winning a Grammy at 22 years old. "What the heck! This is crazy. I never thought I'd say I won a Grammy at 22 years old," she shared in her speech. "If you don't know me, I am Tyla from South Africa. Last year, God decided to change my life." She thanked her family and team for the support."

South African stars are fast becoming internationally recognised and competing on the world stage. Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, and Nomcebo Zikode won Best Global Music Performance in the Global Music at the 65th Grammys. DJ Black Coffee walked off with Best Dance/Electronic at the Grammys in 2022 and most recently Trevor Noah received the award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series during the 75th Emmy Awards for The Daily Show.

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SUCCESS

Tyla's breakthrough came with the release of her single Getting Late which was featured on the Netflix series, Blood and Water. Her career sky-rocketed when she leased Water in July 2023; where her choreographer Lee-ch? Janecke created the viral, Water challenge. The song landed on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven for the first time in 55 years, since Hugh Masekela's Grazing in the Grass.