Tyla’s suggestive hit song turned into protest anthem by Johannesburg water crisis protesters

Tyla performs onstage during the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

• Residents of Johannesburg have been facing a critical water shortage, with no supply for the past nine days, leading to a spirited protest in Barry Hertzog Road. 
• Ferrial Adam from Water Can said the decision to play Tyla’s song, Water, during the protest was not prearranged.
• The protesters, in a unique show of community spirit, played the song which, despite its suggestive lyrics, helped rally the crowd and draw media attention.

A group of protesters gathered in Johannesburg’s Barry Hertzog Road over a prolonged lack of water that has lasted nine days and counting.

The protesters played Tyla’s song, Water, during the protest, leaving X (formerly known as Twitter) users confused as they noted the song was rooted in several sexual innuendos.

Tyla signed with Epic Records in 2021 following the domestic success of her 2019 debut single, Getting Late.  

She earned global success with her hit song Water, which dominated social media in 2023 and 2024 and had people doing the Bacardi-inspired dance challenge on TikTok.

In a video breakdown with Genius, Tyla said she was inspired by Aaliyah’s 2001 hit song Rock the Boat. She added the song had mature content but did not know exactly what it was all about.    

During the chorus section, Tyla does not explain the meaning behind the lyrics, “Make me sweat, make me hotter, make me lose my breath, make me water”, but she leaves it up to listeners who are mature enough to understand the song’s subject matter to draw their own inferences. 

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Ferrial Adam of WaterCAN said: “The main reason behind the protest was that people were without water for nine days. This and all the other water issues in Johannesburg prompted people to organise the protest, which was organised by the Emmarentia community.”

WaterCAN is a dedicated network of citizen science activists who serve as committed guardians and proactive stewards, advocating for clean, safe, and sustainable water resources. 

Adam said Tyla’s song was not planned to be played during the protest.

In the clip shared on X, the protesters are seen holding empty five-litre bottles, dancing along to the song, and holding up posters demanding water. 

“One of the residents just took out a speaker and played songs with water. They even played Watermelon Sugar High [by Harry Styles], no need to read too much into that,” Adam said.

She added the music was played for a short time during the protest.

“It was more about building community spirit and coming together.”