Tyla: From break-out star to global music icon in 2024
If last year was Tyla’s break-out year then 2024 was the year the South African-born songstress cemented her status as a global music icon.
She kicked off the year by following the success of 2023 when her hit song “Water” became a viral hit, earning her fans from all corners of the globe.
But by the time it was February, the 22-year-old made history by becoming the youngest African soloist to win a Grammy Award. A month later, she released her self-titled debut album, which features the hit songs “Jump”, “ART” and “Truth and Dare.”
Her 14-track offering also features collaborations with the likes of US rapper Travis Scott, Nigerian singer Tems, South African amapiano artist Kelvin Momo, Becky G and Gunna.
She returned to South Africa in April for the first time since her Grammy win and was serenaded by fans when she touched down at O.R Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.
Our “pretty girl from Joburg” then spent a week in her home city meeting fans at Mall of Africa, hosting a homecoming party in Braamfontein and receiving the Best International Act award from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
She returned overseas and spent the next few months gracing the covers of “Cosmopolitan” magazine, “Dazed” and “Elle”, while also chatting to fellow South African-born superstar Trevor Noah for “Interview” magazine.
Then in May, she stole the show at her very first Met Gala when she rocked a sand-sculpted gown, which was designed by world-renowned fashion house, Balmain.
By mid-year, Tyla continued to grow her brand by collaborating with some of the world’s biggest fashion houses and technology brands.
This includes partnering with American fashion brand, Gap for their spring 2024 campaign, “Linen Moves”.
She has also worked with the leading audio brand Beats by Dr Dre and the American athletic apparel brand Alo Yoga.
In July, she bagged the illustrious Best New Artist and Best International Act accolades at the BET Awards 2024 in Los Angeles. Tyla also wowed the audience with a live, safari-themed, high-energy performance of "Jump".
A month later, her accolades grew when she won the Global Force award at the Billboard No1s event and a few weeks later, she bagged the Best Afrobeats honours at the MTV Video Music Awards
Dazzling in a bright yellow string dress from Area's Spring/Summer 2025 Collection, she described her win as “bittersweet” during her acceptance speech.
“This is such a big moment for Africa, African music, like guys, the global impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music too,” she said.
“This is just so special but it is also bittersweet because I know there is a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats, it’s a thing and even though Afrobeats has run things, it has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse, it's more than just Afrobeats,” she added.
“I come from South Africa, I represent amapiano, I represent my culture and I just want to shout out all the Afrobeats artists in this category with me … Africa to the world.”
Then in October, Tyla once again proved her international star status when she headlined the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
She closed off October by treating her Tygers to three new songs, “Push 2 Start,”, “Shake Ah” and “Back to You” as part of the deluxe version of her self-titled album.
Meanwhile, on home soil, the singer was a big winner at the South African Music Awards (Samas). In absentia, she won Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Best Pop Album for her self-titled debut album.
In November, she also released “Tears”, which reveals the songbird's softer side, a track which is a departure from her usual upbeat signature sound and a track which proved her versatility as a musician.
She also dropped the Stanley “Tyla Tyger Quencher” with her iconic tiger print and took her musical career to new heights when she was nominated for eight nominations at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), including Top R&B Artist, Top Afrobeats Artist, Top R&B Song, Top R&B Album and Top R&B Female Artist Awards.
The multi-award-winning star made history as the first artist in the BBMAs to be nominated three times in a single category.
Her songs “Water”, “Truth or Dare” and “Jump” were all nominated for the Top Afrobeats Song Award.
Tyla then returned to South Africa this month for her first-ever South African concerts. She gave an electrifying performance during her sold-out Cape Town and Pretoria concerts, prompting her to have another one in Gauteng in January.
With all the accolades she accumulated in 2024, Tyla has remained true to her South African roots. During interviews, she has consistently sung Mzansi’s praises, even announcing on stage during her Mother City show that her food stop in South Africa was Chicken Licken.
Her success has not been without challenges, after being forced to cancel her international tour earlier this year because of an injury, facing widespread online scrutiny and even being labelled an “uppity African”.
Despite these challenges, she continues to rack up the accolades.
And with 2025 just a few weeks away, Tyla seems destined for even more success as she continues to fly the South African flag high.