Tyla had more than a trophy on her mind at the 32nd South African Music Awards.
After receiving the AfriPure International Achievement Award for the second time, the singer used her moment on stage to celebrate the artists who shaped her journey and make a bigger call for African unity.
Reflecting on her rapid rise, Tyla admitted that there was no blueprint for becoming a global star from South Africa. She credited her home country, its artists and the Pretoria Bacardi movement for helping shape the career she has today.
But her biggest message came at the end.
“I pray one day to see a unified Africa; it’s so important,” she said.
For Tyla, the global success may have her name on the billboards, but South Africa remains firmly at the heart of the story.