All three Afrobeats musicians launched significant projects in 2024: ‘TYLA+,’ ‘Born in the Wild,’ and ‘The Year I Turned 21.’
The top female artists of Afrobeats came together for a unique event. On the evening of Monday (Dec. 23), Tyla, Tems, and Ayra Starr were seen together at OBI’S HOUSE in Lagos, Nigeria.
Earlier that day, Tyla performed “Jump” with Gunna at Flytime Fest, while Tems had just completed her worldwide “Born in the Wild Tour” the month before. In a video posted online, the three were seen dancing with one another in the club.
Naturally, social media quickly urged them to work together. “It’s incredibly uplifting to witness Tyla, Ayra, and Tems spending time together, working on projects, and enjoying their friendship, even with the internet’s fixation on creating rivalry among them,” a Twitter user commented.
A different individual wrote, “Each clip of Tyla, Tems, and Ayra on my [timeline]” with a GIF of Lewis Hamilton from “Hot Ones.” Keep scrolling for additional responses.
The year 2024 has proven to be excellent for all three women — and for Afrobeats in general. In May, Starr released The Year I Turned 21 along with the Giveon-featured “Last Heartbreak Song,” “Commas,” and “Rhythm & Blues.” Further contributions were made by artists such as Asake, Coco Jones, and Anitta.
Tems, conversely, released her highly anticipated studio album, Born in the Wild, in June. Although it featured fewer guest appearances, J. Cole contributed his lyrical skills to “Free Fall,” while Asake is featured on the standout track “Get It Right” from the 18-song project. It also featured well-known tracks such as “Forever” and “Love Me JeJe,” a contemporary reinterpretation of Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 hit of the same title.
In October, Tyla released the deluxe edition of her self-titled album, which includes the TikTok-viral tracks “PUSH 2 START,” “BACK to YOU,” and “SHAKE AH” featuring Tony Duardo, Optimist Music ZA, and Ez Maestro. She showcased the previously mentioned record live for the first time during the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Notably, the initial TYLA featured the Johannesburg artist collaborating with Tems for the first time on “No. 1.” The two musicians expressed their emotions on record over the Sammy Soso-produced instrumental, which sadly never had a visual counterpart released. “She serves as the model for our generation,” Tyla mentioned to NPR. “She’s been doing an amazing job, and she’s been creating numerous opportunities for us.”
