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

Tyla Makes History at SAMA32, Calls for African Unity in Powerful Acceptance Speech

South African superstar Tyla secured her place in the history books at the 32nd South African Music Awards, claiming the AfriPure International Achievement Award for the second consecutive year. The Grammy-winning artist joined Black Coffee as the only musicians to win this prestigious category twice, but this time she was there in person at Sun City Superbowl to feel the love from her home country.

When media personality Bonang Matheba and AfriPure co-founder Grant Hughes handed over the trophy, Tyla delivered an acceptance speech that hit different. She opened up about the unique pressure of carving her own path in the global music industry. “There’s never been a Tyla before me, and I don’t have a roadmap,” she told the audience. “I don’t have someone to call and ask how they did things, and which steps to make, so as I stumbled through my career and my life now growing up as a woman and an artist in front of the world, I just thank South Africa for being there for me and for supporting me.” The rising star also gave major props to the Pretoria Bacardi movement, crediting the dance style for catapulting her breakthrough single “Water” to international success. “South Africa runs through my veins, it shows in the way I speak, the way I dance,” she declared.

In a moment that brought the house down, Tyla transformed her individual win into a collective celebration of African talent. She invited fellow artists including Makhadzi, Cassper Nyovest, Zee Nxumalo, Maglera Doe Boy, Langa Mavuso, Babalwa M, Lordkez, and Xduppy to join her on stage. Surrounded by her peers, she closed with a powerful vision: “I wanna take this moment to celebrate all the artists from here… I pray one day to see a unified Africa; it’s so important, and I just thank you, guys.” After dominating the 2024 ceremony with four awards from afar, seeing Tyla finally accept her flowers in person while advocating for continental unity proved why she’s become one of Africa’s most important voices on the global stage.

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