South African singer-songwriter Tyla has etched her name in music history as the first African solo artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify with her global hit, Water. This milestone solidifies her status as one of the most influential voices in contemporary music, further highlighting the expanding global impact of African artists.
Originally released on July 28, 2023, Water quickly gained momentum, largely due to Tyla’s electrifying live performance at the Giants of Africa Festival in Kigali, Rwanda. The event sparked a viral dance challenge that propelled the song to international success. The track, which blends amapiano and R&B, resonated with audiences worldwide, climbing the charts and earning Tyla her first Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards in February 2024.
Tyla joins an exclusive group of African artists who have reached the billion-stream milestone on Spotify, including Wizkid, who achieved the feat through his feature on Drake’s One Dance, Rema with Calm Down featuring Selena Gomez, and Tems, whose collaboration on Future’s Wait For U alongside Drake also crossed the threshold.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music in Sub-Saharan Africa, praised Tyla’s groundbreaking achievement, stating:
“We are incredibly proud of Tyla’s historic achievement. This milestone is a testament to her talent, hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders. Tyla’s success is an inspiration to aspiring artists across Africa and the world, and we are honored to have played a part in her journey.”
Tyla Laura Seethal, born on January 30, 2002, in Johannesburg, has been widely dubbed the “Queen of Popiano” for her fusion of pop and amapiano sounds. After signing with Epic Records in 2021, she gained international recognition with Water, which became the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years. The song was a major precursor to her self-titled debut album, Tyla (2024), which received critical acclaim and performed well commercially in multiple countries.
At just 22 years old, Tyla has set new records, becoming the youngest African artist in history to win a Grammy Award. Her accolades include an MTV Video Music Award, two BET Awards, three MTV Europe Music Awards, and the prestigious Global Force Award at Billboard R&B’s No. 1’s event. With a billion streams and counting, her success story is only just beginning, paving the way for a new generation of African artists to reach global audiences.
