South African media personality Somizi Mhlongo has come to the defence of music star Tyla following intense criticism online after her historic second Grammy win.
The 24-year-old singer, who beat Nigerian superstar Davido to claim the award for Best African Music Performance, faced backlash on social media, particularly from Nigerian fans who felt their artists were more deserving.
In a video addressing the controversy, Somizi spoke passionately about the unfairness of the criticism and the damaging effect it had on African unity in the music industry.
“I’m gonna speak about this as calmly and as politely as I can. The level of entitlement. The sense of entitlement. Grammys are not your mother’s jumping castle party. Grammys are not Nigerian music awards. The level of entitlement thinking that only Nigerians who are nominated are qualified to win,” he said.
He went on to highlight that the criticism was particularly hurtful because Tyla is a woman.
“What hurts the most is that it’s a woman, and not a Nigerian woman. It’s a South African woman who was nominated alongside three Nigerians, if I’m right. Now it feels like we’re being made a laughing stock to the world. People look at us and say, look at these Africans, we give them a chance, and now they’re fighting over it. The Grammys don’t care about anyone’s feelings. It’s all about the facts, and when it comes to that song, the numbers don’t lie.”
Somizi urged critics to recognise the achievements of all artists involved, not just focus on Davido.
“Stop acting like only Davido deserved to win and ignoring the achievements of the other nominated artists.
Every artist there earned their place and deserved to win. Also, let me remind you, that category wasn’t for Afrobeats. It was for the best African performance. And stop saying Tyla’s music isn’t African. She’s South African, and we, as South Africans, enjoy and connect with her music.”
“Stop thinking you are the gods of music. Nigerian music is beautiful, but you’re taking away the beauty of African music,” he concluded.