South African pop sensation Tyla Laura Seethal widely known as Tyla made history at the 52nd annual American Music Awards (AMAs), by securing two major trophies. She took home the trophy for Best Afrobeats Artist and also won Social Song of the Year for her hit song, “CHANEL.” 

The South African star, went into the night as the most nominated African artist in the history of the AMAs with four nominations, she emerged as the only African act to win at this year’s ceremony. Alongside her victory as the Best Afrobeats Artist where she beat out heavyweights like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, and Moliy she also walked away with the fan-voted Social Song of the Year for her hit single, “CHANEL.”

Released in October 2025, “CHANEL” has enjoyed massive commercial success, dominating global music charts and amassing over 320 million streams on Spotify. The track was also nominated for Best Music Video and Best Female R&B Artist.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, the singer-songwriter first shot to international prominence in 2023 with her breakout single, “Water.” The track fused contemporary R&B with Amapiano, an electronic dance music genre from South Africa, creating a distinct sonic signature that captivated audiences worldwide.
“Water” became a viral sensation across social media platforms, rapidly climbing the global charts and breaking into the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100. The success of the single served as the launchpad for her self-titled debut album, catapulting her from a rising local talent to an international household name.

Tyla’s victories at the 2026 AMAs add to the growing list of accolades for the artist. Tyla previously secured her first Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, courtesy of “Water.” She has also enjoyed continuous success at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), winning the award for Best Afrobeats Video in both 2024 and 2025 with “Water” and “Push 2 Start.”

Also she has secured two nominations for the upcoming 2026 BET Awards that will be happening in June, including a historic nod for Video of the Year. The singer is currently preparing for the release of her highly anticipated sophomore studio album, scheduled to debut in July.