Tyla speaks at the Billboard R&B No. 1 held at The Box on September 8, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Billboard via Getty Images)
- South African pop star Tyla received a prestigious honour from US music and entertainment magazine Billboard on Sunday in New York.
- Accepting her award, the singer thanked Billboard, her team, label, family, God and her fans, who she refers to as her “Tygers”.
- The award was presented by Heran Mamo, senior R&B, hip hop and Afrobeats writer at Billboard.
South African pop star Tyla received a prestigious honour from US music and entertainment magazine Billboard on Sunday in New York.
She attended the Billboard R&B No. 1 event at The Box, where she was lauded as a “global force”.
Accepting her award, the singer thanked Billboard, her team, label, family, God, and her fans, whom she refers to as her “Tygers”.
“This is crazy that I’m being honoured here tonight. What the heck,” she continued.
“I remember when everyone used to feel like this was so unattainable, especially from where I’m from and the fact that I’m able to be here today and just live out a dream that never felt real – it’s just such a beautiful thing to be able to experience.”
“Thank you to everyone who cares to learn about other cultures and other styles of music and truly appreciates it and loves it for what it is,” she said.
The award was presented by Heran Mamo, senior R&B, hip hop and Afrobeats writer at Billboard.
“I’m really honoured to be presenting our next award this evening,” Mamo said.
“For years, she dreamed of becoming Africa’s first pop star. Now she’s taken over the world with her signature popiano sound, performing her pop-infused take on her native South Africa’s Amapiano in the US, France, Portugal, Japan, South Korea and more,” Mamo added.
“She successfully transformed ‘Africa’s the world’ from a motto to her mission. Please join me in a round of applause for Billboard’s Global Force Honouree, Tyla.”
Tyla at the Billboard R&B No. 1 held at The Box on 8 September 2024 in New York, New York. (Kristina Bumphrey/Billboard via Getty Images)