At a Glance
- Tyla wins 30 global music awards, including 2024 Grammy and 2025 American Music Award.
- South African singer’s debut album hits Billboard 200; “Water” peaks at No. 7 Hot 100.
- Tyla leads African music’s global rise, sweeping MTV, BET, and Billboard Women in Music Awards.
South African singer Tyla has solidified her place on the global stage with an unprecedented wave of industry recognition, including a historic Grammy win and multiple international awards, amassing a staggering 30 industry awards from 105 nominations in her burgeoning career. Her rise marks a pivotal moment for African music in the global entertainment landscape.
Grammy winner and chart-topping sensation
Tyla’s ascent in the global music industry is nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, she clinched her first Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, becoming the youngest African soloist to do so.
Her self-titled debut album, released that same year, debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart — an impressive feat for an emerging artist from South Africa. The album’s breakout single, “Water”, peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, demonstrating her crossover appeal beyond African markets.
This Grammy win marked a watershed moment for Tyla and African music as a whole, amplifying the global reach of South Africa’s amapiano sound and solidifying her status as an international music powerhouse.
Dominating international music awards
Tyla’s trophy cabinet expanded rapidly in 2024 and early 2025. She swept prestigious events like the MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards, and MTV Europe Music Awards.
Most recently, at the 51st Annual American Music Awards (AMAs) in 2025, she took home the ‘Favourite Afrobeats Artist’ award, triumphing over heavyweight Nigerian artists such as Wizkid, Rema, Tems, and Asake.
In addition to these wins, she garnered multiple honors at the South African Music Awards, Basadi in Music Awards, and Metro FM Music Awards.
She was also recognized for her style and influence, earning accolades like the Most Stylish Performing Artist at the South African Style Awards and the Global Icon award.
Her industry impact was further acknowledged with the Global Force accolade at the inaugural Billboard R&B’s No. 1s event and the Impact Award at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
From humble beginnings to global stardom
Tyla’s journey began with cover versions of pop songs and early amapiano influences. Her debut single “Getting Late” (2019) laid the groundwork for her breakthrough, with its music video receiving a nomination for Best Music Video of the Year at the South African Music Awards in 2022. Subsequent releases like “Been Thinking” earned further nominations and wins, highlighting her growth as an artist.
Her relentless rise culminated in 2024 with multiple awards — 20 in total — making her the most awarded African artist that year.
This consistent recognition underscores her ability to blend amapiano rhythms with mainstream appeal, reshaping global perceptions of African music genres.
Tyla’s continued global influence
Looking ahead, Tyla’s influence shows no signs of waning. She will host the 2025 Kids’ Choice Awards and remains a nominee for major categories such as Favorite Global Music Star and Favorite Music Collaboration for her remix of “Show Me Love.” As African music increasingly dominates global charts, Tyla stands as a beacon of this cultural renaissance, inspiring a new generation of artists from the continent.
Her blend of musical innovation, style, and global appeal not only places her among the world’s elite performers but also drives forward the international appreciation of South African and African music on the world stage.
