“I Pray to See a Unified Africa”: Tyla Says as She Wins SAMA32 International Achievement Award

Tyla Calls for African Unity While Making SAMA History

South African superstar Tyla just cemented her place in music history at the 32nd South African Music Awards, becoming only the second artist ever to win the AfriPure International Achievement Award twice. The Grammy-winning singer joined Black Coffee in this exclusive club, but this time she showed up in person at Sun City Superbowl to claim her trophy—and her acceptance speech hit different.

Taking the stage after receiving the award from media icon Bonang Matheba and AfriPure co-founder Grant Hughes, Tyla got real about the weight of carrying African music on a global platform. “There’s never been a Tyla before me, and I don’t have a roadmap,” she confessed to the packed arena. The “Water” hitmaker opened up about navigating stardom without a blueprint, growing up publicly as both an artist and a young woman while the world watches. She gave major props to her home country for holding her down through the journey, acknowledging that South Africa’s influence flows through everything she does—from her accent to her signature dance moves. She specifically shouted out Pretoria’s Bacardi scene, crediting the moment she incorporated the dance into her “Water” performances as a career-defining pivot.

But Tyla wasn’t about to celebrate solo. In a powerful moment that transcended individual achievement, she invited fellow African artists including Makhadzi, Cassper Nyovest, Zee Nxumalo, Maglera Doe Boy, Langa Mavuso, Babalwa M, Lordkez, and Xduppy to join her onstage. Surrounded by her peers, she delivered a vision that resonated far beyond the awards ceremony: “I pray one day to see a unified Africa; it’s so important.” The scene perfectly captured the collaborative spirit driving African music’s global takeover—a rising tide lifting all boats.

After sweeping four awards at the 2024 ceremony, this year’s single win carried more symbolic weight than hardware count. Tyla’s message about unity and collective elevation reflects the mindset propelling African artists to unprecedented heights on the world stage.

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