Tyla's Grammy victory over Burna Boy and Davido sparks South Africa-Nigeria rivalry. The competition between South Africa and Nigeria has become more intense as they prepare for a vital football match on Wednesday. Tyla's victory at the Grammys, in which she triumphed over four Nigerian candidates, has heightened the animosity between the two countries.
"South Africa won today but Nigeria will win on Wednesday where it matters most" one user wrote on X.
Overcoming competitors such as Davido, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy, Tyla was able to secure the Grammy Award for her song "Water" in the category of Best African Music Performance. As a reply, Nigerians are rallying behind their national team, the Super Eagles, and asking them to seek payback for the injustice they have suffered. This comes as they prepare to face off against South Africa in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
"No Nigerian won a Grammy, but a South African won. This is Nigerians being generous so that when we win them in AFCON, they will have something to banter with," another user wrote on X.
The addition of the award for the Best African Music Performance this year was welcomed with great approval across the continent, despite the fact that some critics felt that it ought to have been implemented earlier. On Sunday evening, Tyla, who was the first recipient of the award, experienced an overwhelming sense of happiness when she accepted it.
“„This is crazy! I never thought I'd say I won a Grammy at 22 years old! If you don't know me, my name is Tyla. I'm from South Africa and last year God decided to change my whole life, so thank you so much to God. Thank you to my team, my family; I know my mother's crying somewhere in here. Thank you to the Recording Academy for this category. It's so important and I know I'm forgetting some things, but I won a Grammy! Thank you, thank you.- Tyla
Speaking to the Recording Academy after receiving her first Grammy award, Tyla expressed how she was "shaking" and felt deeply honored to win. She shared with the reporter that her father had already claimed dibs on the award and had designated a spot for it in his room.
There was not a single golden gramophone that was awarded to the Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy at the ceremony, although he was nominated in four different categories. Despite this, his fascinating performance was able to hold the audience's attention.
In an interview with the BBC, the Nigerian musician Billy O expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of Nigerian winners, implying that this was a reflection of the voters' lack of genuine appreciation for Afrobeats and Afro RnB.
"Despite dominating in Africa, I think we are not really well appreciated when it comes to Grammys," he said.
Davido, who has been nominated for three Grammys, generously offered his congrats to Tyla on social media, encouraging her to "keep soaring" despite the fierce competition that exists between South Africa and Nigeria. Additionally, South Africa had representation at the ceremony through comedian Trevor Noah, who hosted the prestigious event for the fourth time.