By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
South African singer Tyla has made history by being named the most awarded African artist of 2024, securing a remarkable total of 26 awards in a single year.
The “Water” hitmaker’s exceptional talent and global appeal have solidified her status as one of Africa’s leading music exports.
Tyla claimed several prestigious honors this year, including a Grammy Award, which marks a milestone for any African artist on the world stage.
Her accolades also include three MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMAs), two BET Awards, an MTV Video Music Award (MTV VMA), a Billboard Music Award, and a Billboard Global Force Award. These international distinctions highlight her influence and widespread resonance with audiences around the globe.
In addition to her international successes, Tyla dominated the African and South African music scenes, winning four Africa Arts Entertainment Awards and four South African Music Awards (SAMAs).
Her local influence is further underscored by other accolades, including a GQ South Africa Men of the Year Award, a Cultural and Creative Industry Award, a DStv Content Creator Award, a 3 Music Award, a Metro FM Music Award, a Gold Derby Music Award, two Basadi in Music Awards, and a South African Style Award.
Looking ahead, Tyla’s success shows no signs of slowing down as she has already kicked off 2025 by winning four major awards: an iHeartRadio Music Award, a Billboard Women in Music Award, a Trace Award, and an NXT Honors Award.
Before her record-breaking year, Tyla had already begun gaining recognition, winning an African Entertainment Award USA in 2023, a precursor to her overwhelming success in the following year. With her continued rise, Tyla is poised to further cement her legacy in the music world.