Tyla’s win at the Grammys over Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Davido, Asake and Tems has rekindled the Nigeria and South Africa rivalry as both countries prepare to face each other in the semi final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa is deeply rooted in the historical context of the African continent.
Over the years, the two nations have engaged in fiercely competitive matches, particularly in the AFCON. The 1996 AFCON marked a pivotal moment when South Africa unexpectedly defeated the defending champions, Nigeria, shifting the balance of power in their football dynamics.
Come Wednesday, the two teams will once again battle it out, but this time around with a more renewed burning blood between the two nations.
Already, social media frenzies has even helped to heighten the ‘tension’
https://x.com/drpenking/status/1754094226751533338?s=20.
AMAPIANO DERBY IS HERE
NIGERIA VS SOUTH AFRICA🔥🔥🔥
— Trey (@UTDTrey) February 3, 2024
Amapiano derby
Tyla’s song, “Water,” beat out stiff competition from established Nigerian artists Davido (Unavailable), Asake (Amapiano), Burna Boy (City Boys), and Ayra Starr (Rush) to win the African Music Performance category at the 66th Grammy Awards.
Fellow contender Davido immediately took to his ‘X’ page to congratulate her.
https://x.com/davido/status/1754297817953452306?s=20
The Amapiano derby was the creation of the two entertainment Giant’s, and while obviously Nigerian artists have grown bigger than their fellow African artistes, a win for Tyla at the 66th Grammy’s is another soccer punch on the global stage.
Some Nigerians even believe that South African beats are better than Nigerian, according to Ochei Blessing, a Nigerian student. She believes that Tyla deserves the award, more than the other Nigerians, in her words, “Their beats makes more sense than ours, though we have more talent than them”.
Nigeria and its artists might have lost at the Grammys. But come Wednesday, they would hope to get one over their fierce rivals for a place in the AFCON final.
