‘Water’ by Tyla wins Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance

Tyla won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, for her single “Water.” This new category was established to recognize recordings that feature distinctive musical expressions from Africa.

“Water” was released on July 28, 2023, as the lead single from Tyla’s self-titled debut album. The track incorporates elements of amapiano, pop, and R&B, featuring amapiano log-drum patterns and keyboard melodies combined with modern pop and R&B influences. A TikTok dance challenge contributed to the song’s rapid rise in popularity. “Water” became the first solo song by a South African artist in 55 years to enter the Billboard Hot 100, a record not seen since Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968. In addition, the song reached top-ten positions in several international markets and hit number one in New Zealand, Romania, Suriname, and the United Arab Emirates.

Tyla, whose full name is Tyla Laura Seethal, was born on January 30, 2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa. After the domestic success of her debut single “Getting Late,” she signed with Epic Records in 2021. Her subsequent releases helped her gain recognition in South Africa, and “Water” marked her international breakthrough. The song’s release was further supported by remix versions featuring American rapper Travis Scott and record producer Marshmello, which were issued on November 17, 2023.

The nominees for the Best African Music Performance category were Asake & Olamide for “Amapiano,” Burna Boy for “City Boys,” Davido featuring Musa Keys for “Unavailable,” and Ayra Starr for “Rush.” Tyla’s win was determined by the Recording Academy based on the recording quality and musical arrangement of “Water.”

For a complete list of the 2024 Grammy winners, see Grammy's 2024: Complete List of Winners.