Tyla is a South African singer and songwriter who gained worldwide recognition in 2023 after her hit single Water became a massive favorite globally. Her genre of music is fondly referred to as popiano because her music blends the famous South African Amapiano tone with American pop and sometimes R&B.
| Common Name | Tyla |
| Full Name | Tyla Laura Seethal |
| Age | 23 years old (as of 2023) |
| Date of Birth | January 30, 2002 |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Singer/songwriter |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Place of Birth | Edenvale, Gauteng |
| Nationality | South African |
| Net Worth | $1 million |
Table of Contents
Tyla Biography
Tyla, whose real name is Tyla Laura Seethal, was born in Edenvale, Gauteng, and she grew up in Johannesburg, Gauteng. She comes from a culturally rich background, having a mix of Indian, Mauritian, Zulu, and Irish ancestry. She is one of the four children born to parents Sharleen and Sherwin Seethal.
Tyla’s Academic Background
Tyla graduated from Edenglen High School in 2019, where she held the Head of Culture position. She went ahead to study mining engineering in college but dropped out after finally convincing her parents to allow her take a gap year to pursue her music career. Of course, she never returned, as her music took a very unexpected and positive dive upwards.
Tyla Career
Tyla had always known she wanted to be a musician; she wrote her first lyrics at 12 years old. While in her last year of high school, she began actively pursuing a career in music. She began by posting short videos of her original songs and covers on Instagram. She was discovered by her first manager during this time. After graduating from high school in 2019, she released her first single, Getting Late, which was a success. The music video was released in 2021 and was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year at the South African Music Awards.
In 2023, she performed at the Dolce & Gabbana afterparty in Milan. She then proceeded to join Chris Brown as an opening act for his Under the Influence Tour. Her most popular song, Water, was released in July 2023, which led to a viral dance challenge on TikTok and every other major platform, the “Water Dance Challenge.” The song peaked in the top ten in almost every major country, including South Africa and the USA.
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Tyla Awards
In 2002, Tyla skyrocketed to fame with her 2023 hit single “Water,” which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, making her the youngest African artist to win a Grammy. Her rapid rise has been recognized with numerous accolades, highlighting her influence on both African and global music. Below is a comprehensive list of awards Tyla has won as of the latest available information.
Awards Won by Tyla
- Grammy Awards (2024):
- Best African Music Performance for “Water”
- MTV Video Music Awards (2024):
- Best Afrobeats for “Water”
- BET Awards (2024):
- Best New Artist
- Best International Act
- MTV Europe Music Awards (2024):
- Best African Act
- Best Afrobeats Artist
- Best R&B Artist
- South African Music Awards (2024):
- Best Pop Album for “TYLA”
- Newcomer of the Year
- Female Artist of the Year
- International Achievement Award
- Billboard Awards:
- Global Force Award (2024)
- Billboard Music Awards (2024, exact categories not specified)
- Basadi in Music Awards (2024):
- Song of the Year
- International Achievement
- Highest Airplay
- Cultural and Creative Industry Awards (2024):
- Best International Act
- South African Style Awards (2024):
- Most Stylish Performing Artist
- GQ South Africa Awards (2024):
- Entertainer of the Year
- DStv Content Creator Awards (2024):
- Award not specified
- American Music Awards (2025):
- Favourite Afrobeats Artist
- Billboard Women in Music Awards (2025):
- Impact Award
- African Entertainment Awards USA (2024):
- Best Female Artist
- Additional awards (exact categories not specified, total of four awards)
- 3Music Awards (2024):
- African Song of the Year for “Water”
Total Awards: Tyla has won at least 30 industry awards as of 2025.
Tyla Age
Tyla was born on January 30, 2002. As of 2025, she is 23 years old.
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Tyla Record Deal
During her last year of high school, she started posting songs on social media and persistently messaging people across the industry on social media with samples of her songs. Eventually, she got a reply from Brandon Hixon, cofounder of New York City’s FAX Records. She signed a record deal with Hixon and began recording tracks with him.
Tyla Relationships
In an interview on The Dotty Show in October 2023, she was asked about the relationship between her and Afrobeat superstar Rema, as rumors had started going around about a potential romantic relationship between the two. She denied these allegations while stating that they were just friends. In November of the same year, speculations of a budding romance between her and American singer Travis Scott began after the two shared a dance at the GQ Men of the Year party in Los Angeles; these claims were once again denied by her. In an interview in 2024, she admitted she was single and not looking for love.
Tyla Media Controversies
Tyla has faced social media controversies primarily over her racial identity as a “Coloured” South African, which has sparked debates due to the term’s differing connotations in the U.S., especially during an interview where her team avoided the topic. She clarified her mixed Black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian, and Coloured heritage, emphasizing her dual identity.
Other controversies include her 2024 MTV VMAs moment, where she asked Lil Nas X to hold her award; this action was seen by some as entitled, and accusations of copying Britney Spears’ style at Coachella 2025. Tyla was also labeled an “industry plant” by some because of her sudden boom in the industry. Additionally, in 2024, Tyla faced backlash for appearing to snub streamer Kai Cenat on a live stream, saying, “We friends though,” when he jokingly proposed, prompting accusations of arrogance; she later clarified it was playful banter.
Tyla Net Worth
As of 2025, Tyla’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million. Her wealth is a result of her successful music career, brand endorsements, and live performances. She is also reportedly the highest-earning African artist on YouTube.
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Tyla Social Media Handles
- Instagram: @tyla
- Facebook: Tyla
- Twitter X: @Tyla
- TikTok: @Tyla
- YouTube: @Tylaofficial
Tyla Songs
Queen of Popiano” has captivated global audiences with her infectious blend of amapiano, pop, and R&B. She’s delivered a string of vibrant tracks that showcase her sultry vocals and cultural pride. Below is a list of her songs.
- Getting Late feat. Kooldrink
- Overdue feat. DJ Lag & Kooldrink
- Been Thinking
- To Last
- Girl Next Door feat. Ayra Starr
- Water
- Water (Remix) feat. Travis Scott
- Truth or Dare
- On and On
- No. 1 feat. Tems
