Celebs

History rewritten: Tyla breaks Miriam Makeba’s record!

Listen to this article
-00:00
Tyla nominated at MTV Video Music Awards twice. Photo Supplied
Tyla nominated at MTV Video Music Awards twice. Photo Supplied

She's officially a history-maker.

TYLA is making waves in the music industry.

Tyla Laura Seethal, professionally known as Tyla, is no longer just a global breakout star.

She's officially a history-maker.

The 23-year-old Mzansi sensation has reached a milestone that places her among the legends, rewriting what is possible for African women on the world's most competitive music charts.

With the debut of her latest single Chanel on the US Billboard Hot 100, Tyla has now secured the record for the most solo entries on the chart by an African female artist.

The song entered at number 94 on the final Hot 100 chart of 2025, marking her third solo appearance and pushing her past the long-standing benchmark set by the late, iconic Miriam Makeba.

This achievement carries deep significance.

Makeba's Pata Pata, which peaked at number 12 decades ago, stood as a rare example of Mzansi's excellence on the chart for generations.

Tyla is now not only part of that exclusive history, but she's actively expanding it.

Her Billboard journey began with Water, the global smash that introduced her to the world and climbed all the way to number 7.

ALSO READ | Gagasi FM mutes Felix Hlophe!Opens in new window

That success was followed by Push 2 Start, which charted at number 88.

Now Chanel continues her steady rise.

While three solo entries may seem modest by American standards, for African female artists, it's an extraordinary feat, reflecting barriers slowly being broken.

What makes this moment even more impressive is how Chanel has moved beyond just one chart.

The single debuted at number one on both the US and UK Afrobeats charts, making Tyla the first artist to achieve a simultaneous top debut on both platforms.

The song's momentum has been largely driven by fans online rather than traditional radio, highlighting her digital power and global reach.

On Spotify, Chanel has quickly risen into the global top 40, gaining more than 31 million streams in a short time.

It has already become her strongest early performing release, surpassing the initial trajectory of Water.

Social media has played a major role in the song's success.

The Chanel dance challenge has taken over TikTok, generating millions of videos and spreading across continents.

From Africa to Asia and the Middle East, the song continues to find new audiences, with even K-pop stars joining the trend.

Rejoice Ndlovu

Rejoice Ndlovu

A photography and multimedia journalist with a passion for visual and digital storytelling. News reporting, photography, video production, and content creation, with experience covering breaking news, crime, courts, and community issues. I am committed to producing accurate, ethical, and impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.

READ MORE ON

Lottery branding

Lottery Results

View Results