South African reigning star, Tyla kicked off the 2024 BET Awards with a dominant statement, securing not one, but two major prizes at Sunday’s ceremony held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Tyla’s first win of the night came in the Best International Act category. Visibly moved, she expressed gratitude to her fans, family, and team, promising an upcoming performance to captivate the audience.
The 22-year-old South African singer, who shot to fame with her hit single “Water” in July 2023, accepted the award with visible emotion. “This is very heavy, guys,” Tyla said. “I did not prepare anything, but I just want to say thank you so much to my tigers, my family, and my team.”
Her second victory of the night came as she was later named Best New Artist, triumphing over a competitive field that included 41, 4Batz, Ayra Starr, Bossman Dlow, Fridayy, October London, and Sexyy Red.
Visibly moved by her second win, Tyla exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh, this is crazy.” She graciously acknowledged fellow nominee Sexyy Red before dedicating her award to her home continent. “I want to dedicate this one to Africa,” she said. “I want to dedicate this one to all of the African superstars before me that didn’t get these opportunities that I’m getting. Yeah, it’s just amazing – Africa to the world!
Tyla’s victory marks an impressive start to the evening, as she entered the event with four nominations. In addition to her win, she’s still in contention for two other awards, including Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.
The young artiste is set to perform later in the show, joining a star-studded lineup that includes fellow nominees Ice Spice, Victoria Monét, and Hollywood icon Will Smith.
Despite her rapid rise to fame, which includes a top-10 hit and a Grammy Award at just 22 years old, Tyla remains humble about her success. In recent interviews, she’s expressed that she’s “still working toward making it” in the music industry.
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