The emerging South African sensation outshone competitors such as ASAKE & Olamide (“Amapiano”), Burna Boy (“City Boys Miracle”), Davido featuring Musa Keys (“UNAVAILABLE”), and Ayra Starr (“Rush”).

The 22-year-old songstress, visibly surprised, graciously accepted the award presented by Jimmy Jam during the GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony.

Expressing her astonishment on stage, she exclaimed, “This is unbelievable! I never envisioned winning a GRAMMY at the age of 22.”

Despite facing tough competition, including renowned Afrobeats luminaries like Burna Boy and Davido, Tyla’s chart-topping hit “Water” resonated strongly with GRAMMY voters. The amapiano-infused pop anthem made history by securing a spot on the Billboard Hot 100, a milestone not achieved by a South African solo artist since Hugh Masekala in 1968. Climbing to No. 7, Tyla claimed the title of the highest-charting African female solo musician in Billboard history. Additionally, the track soared to No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs and Hip-Hop/R&B charts.

During her acceptance speech, Tyla graciously acknowledged her family, stating, “I know my mother is shedding tears of joy somewhere in this room.”

In a groundbreaking moment, Tyla becomes the first recipient of the Best African Music Performance award. This category was established by the Academy to recognize outstanding musical contributions from the continent, as explained by Academy President Harvey Mason Jr.

“I envision a future where we can extend recognition to even more music from Africa and various parts of the world,” Mason remarked in an interview with GRAMMY.com. “The Recording Academy’s trajectory is one of equity, celebrating music not only breaking in our country but also from around the globe.”