Tyla mourns grandmother’s passing, pays tribute to Zulu heritage

JOHANNESBURG — 2 September 2025

Grammy-winning singer Tyla has announced her grandmother’s passing in a heartfelt Instagram tribute shared on 1 September.

The artist posted: “I thank God for your presence in my life. Thank you for all the love and all the life stories you would tell me. You were always proud of your mother and called us royalty because of her. Thank you for teaching me about my Zulu heritage and making me the artist I am today. Your presence will forever be missed. The sweetest soul & I love you forever Gran.” (Tyla’s Instagram story)

Fans globally offered condolences through social media. Twitter user @fairyoftwt posted: “May Tyla’s grandmother rest in peace. Sending love to her and her loved ones.” Another user @VivianOgec2119 added: “OMGGG! My condolences to Tyla and her family, and may granny rest in perfect peace!”

Amid her grief, Tyla’s career continues thriving. Her “We Wanna Party” EP surpassed 80 million Spotify streams since its July release (Tygers Access Twitter). She was also confirmed as a performer for the 2025 Video Music Awards.

Supportive messages continued with user @tylassecurity writing: “She will forever be proud of you boo, God has her now.” (Twitter)

Tyla acknowledged her grandmother’s role in her identity, specifically crediting her for teaching about Zulu culture and inspiring her artistry.