Tyla made history by becoming the first artiste to win the Best African Music Performance award.
At the 66th Grammy Awards held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, singer Tyla made history by becoming the inaugural recipient of the Best African Music Performance award. This year's Grammy Awards, determined by peer votes, featured a comprehensive range of categories, expanding to cover 11 fields and 94 categories, including newly introduced ones like Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.
The Best African Music Performance category was introduced to honor recordings that incorporate distinctive local expressions from various regions across the African continent. This encompasses a diverse array of musical traditions, encompassing genres such as Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz, among others.
Tyla Laura Seethal, hailing from South Africa, clinched the inaugural award with her viral hit "Water," triumphing over formidable competition from Afrobeats luminaries such as Davido & Musa Keys, Burna Boy, Asake & Olamide, and Ayra Starr. However, during her acceptance speech, an amusing moment ensued when the accompanying band mistakenly performed Fela Kuti's "Water No Get Enemy," a classic by the late Nigerian Afrobeat legend, instead of Tyla's contemporary R&B/Afrobeats track with Amapiano influences.
In her response, Tyla, adorned in a striking Grecian-style gown, expressed astonishment and gratitude, remarking on the surreal experience of winning a Grammy at the age of 22. She acknowledged the transformative impact of "Water" on her life, extending appreciation to her team, family, and the Recording Academy for instituting the significant category. Tyla's track "Water," released in July 2023 under FAX Records and Epic Records, received remixes from Travis Scott and Marshmello, achieving success on the Billboard top-10 Hot 100 chart.
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