
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>The biggest night in music turned out to also be one of the biggest moments for 22-year-old Tyla Laura Seethal, famously known as Tyla. On Sunday, the South African singer made history when she took home her first Grammy award for Best African Music Performance for her song Water. The continent could not contain its excitement, taking to social media to celebrate her big win.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>“I did not think I would win a Grammy at 22 years old,” Seethal beamed as she accepted the award at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, US.</p>



<p>Utilizing the power of social media, while still in high school, Seethal gained traction by posting covers on her platforms for her followers to see. The Johannesburg-born singer was then discovered which led to her national success as an artist.</p>



<p>However, it was Water and social media platform TikTok that subsequently landed her international recognition especially as the world began moving to her signature ‘Water Challenge’ dance compilation. From global singers Jennifer Hudson to Ciara, fans followed the slight bump routine, mistaken for twerking but in essence is a style of contemporary dancing in South Africa known as Barcadi.</p>



<p>“I knew it was going to be an amazing song,” Seethal said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine after winning her award. “I just didn’t know it was going to do this. It has literally changed my whole life.”</p>



<p>The Best African Music Performance Award is one of three categories added to the Grammys in 2024, its 66th edition. The Recording Academy hailed this a breakthrough in acknowledging the commercial and cultural reach of African music.</p>



<p>“Giving African music its own category would highlight and celebrate the diversity and richness of Africa,” Shawn Thwaites, project manager at The Recording Academy, said in a roundtable about the new category in November last year. “This is a great step forward!”</p>



<p>Seethal was nominated alongside Asake and Olamide (Amapiano), Ayra Starr (Rush), Burna Boy (City Boys), and Davido featuring Musa Keys (Unavailable).</p>



<p>Social media expressed its enthusiasm as Seethal told the world “God literally decided to changed my life last year”. </p>



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Imagine your first ever award being a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a>, Tyla is blessed <a href="https://t.co/1Ea3oGSqko">pic.twitter.com/1Ea3oGSqko</a></p>&mdash; The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) <a href="https://twitter.com/Am_Blujay/status/1754333973478514914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyla is the true definition of &quot;staying true to yourself&quot;. The girl is South African through and through🔥🔥❤️🇿🇦<br>I love her please &quot;What the heck!&quot;🥹🥹 So cute<br>Congratulations Tyla<a href="https://t.co/Ya2W6iUQM3">pic.twitter.com/Ya2W6iUQM3</a> <a href="https://t.co/VLm4F7xvyi">pic.twitter.com/VLm4F7xvyi</a></p>&mdash; Mahlatse🙇🏾‍♀️🙏🏾 (@Matema_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matema_/status/1754435693902774743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TITBIT: <br><br>Tyla wins a Grammy for Water <br><br>Tyla’s “Water” won ‘Best African Music Performance’ <br><br>At 22, she is the youngest South African and to win a Grammy. <br><br>She is also the youngest  African Grammy winner.<br><br>Tyla was the only artist in her category with no album — Burna Boy,… <a href="https://t.co/3a8uOS2XSn">pic.twitter.com/3a8uOS2XSn</a></p>&mdash; Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilMphela/status/1754387598510887231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Seethal’s album is due to drop in March this year, a month before she is to take the stage at the Coachella music festival. Her eponymous album is meant to be a celebration of being African as she combines the sounds of Amapiano, Afrobeats along with pop and RnB in her music.</p>



<p>“The album is literally an introduction of myself and my sound,” Seethal said at her post-win press conference. “I have been working on it for two years. I have never released a project before. I have been perfecting my sound… and I am so excited for the release. There are a lot of bangers on there.”</p>


66th GRAMMY AWARDS  Premiere Ceremony

South African Singer Tyla Wins Her First Grammy, Making Her The Youngest From Africa To Hold The Gong


<p><strong><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color">Topline</span></strong>: Multi-award winning South African-born Comedian and <em>The Daily Show </em>host, Trevor Noah, will be hosting arguably the biggest night in music at the 2021 63rd Grammy Awards at the end of January, the Recording Academy announced on Tuesday. </p>



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’re thrilled to welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheDailyShow</a> host, Emmy-winner, and GRAMMY-nominee <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrevorNoah</a> as the host of the 63rd <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a>! <br><br>We can’t think of a better person to serve as Master of Ceremonies for Music’s Biggest Night. 🎶 <a href="https://t.co/vbFqPbXfgl">pic.twitter.com/vbFqPbXfgl</a></p>&mdash; Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) <a href="https://twitter.com/RecordingAcad/status/1331233988535435265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts"><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color">Key Facts</span></h3>



<ul><li>Before the 2021 Grammy Nominations were announced, the Recording Academy announced that Grammy-nominated comedian, Noah, would be hosting the award ceremony that will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021.&nbsp;</li><li>This will be the first time Noah hosts the awards, which Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim President and CEO of the Recording Academy say will be an unforgettable and incredible evening as Noah has a “knack for keeping viewers engaged and entertained.”&nbsp;</li><li>“Trevor&#8217;s comedy talents, engaging energy and unique perspective make him the perfect host for the Grammys,&#8221; said CBS Entertainment Group President and Chief Executive Officer George Cheeks added in a statement.&nbsp;</li><li>Noah’s “Son of Patricia” scored a Grammy nomination in 2019 for his comedy album. However, the award ended up going to Dave Chappelle’s “Sticks &amp; Stones.”&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote"><strong><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color">Crucial Quote</span></strong></h3>



<p>&#8220;Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the Grammys have refused to have me sing or be nominated for Best Pop Album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event,&#8221; Noah said in a statement on Tuesday. &#8220;I think as a one-time Grammy nominee, I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know the pain of not winning the award! (This is a metaphorical shoulder, I&#8217;m not trying to catch Corona). See you at the 63rd Grammys!&#8221;</p>



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In a year that most human beings would love to forget, there has been one constant force that has brought us together &#8211; Music. I’m truly honoured to be hosting The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a>, a night celebrating all of our favourite artists who’ve helped keep us sane while we’re all stuck indoors! <a href="https://t.co/rmFuBjWeJk">pic.twitter.com/rmFuBjWeJk</a></p>&mdash; Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah/status/1331301131906117637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading"><strong><span class="has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color">Further Reading </span></strong></h3>



<p id="h-the-highest-earning-stand-up-comedians-of-2019-forbes"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielshapiro/2019/08/16/the-highest-earning-stand-up-comedians-of-2019/?sh=7f9f9c4842fa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Highest-Earning Stand-Up Comedians Of 2019 (FORBES</em></a></p>



<p id="h-trevor-noah-is-laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank-forbes-africa"><a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/08/20/trevor-noah-is-laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank/"><em>Trevor Noah Is Laughing All The Way To The Bank (FORBES AFRICA)&nbsp;</em></a></p>


Tag: 63rd Grammy Award

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

South African Singer Tyla Wins Her First Grammy, Making Her The Youngest From Africa To Hold The Gong

Trevor Noah Announced As Host For 2021 GRAMMYs