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Reaction To Tyla’s ‘Water’ Live Performance Sparks Comparison Debate With Ayra Starr [Watch]

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South African music star Tyla has performed her hit song ‘Water’ for the first time on live television with the video generating reactions on social media.

The footage of the South African diva performing the smash song at the BIANCA 2023 program was uploaded on Wednesday by ‘Charts Africa’ on X (previously known as Twitter), with a certain reaction drawing comparisons to Nigerian superstar singer, Ayra Starr.

Fans took to comparing the style of music and dance moves deployed by both singers with others disapproving the comparison.

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Tyla, 21, and Ayra Starr, 21, previously worked on the song “Girl Next Door” in May, and Tyla expressed her delight at collaborating with the Afrobeats sensation.

I absolutely loved working with Ayra Starr on our new single, ‘Girl Next Door,’” Tyla said in a press release. “She’s such a talented artist, and I feel like our energies really came together to create something special. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”

On Wednesday, Charts Africa posted: “Tyla performing #Water for the first time on live television.”

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READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Tems, Ayra Starr, Asake Earn 2023 BET Award Nominations

The comparison, however, strted when @_dhemii said:
Tyla is who Ayra Starr thinks she is.”

@anthony_fedora replied:

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“Ayra Starr is exactly who she thinks she is, g** with that downplaying another person in other to elevate another.

“You can admire Tyla without trying to put an equally beautiful and talented Ayra Starr down.”

@AbiodunRaphiat alao said: “Nigerians and their insecurity attitude, why are you comparing your artist to SAans artists. Always looking for rivalry in everything,
Tyla is not copying your Ayra star
Tyla is a queen on her own 👑 and she’s gonna shine for a very long time.”

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@smilenelisa commented:

“Y’all are so weird Ayra Starr is one of the few artists that has always hyped Tyla before she blew up don’t try and pit these two talented ladies against each other, anyway stream Girl next door by Tyla ft Ayra Starr.”

@pinkyswearand1 posted:

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“Two bad bees can co-exist and we love them equally . Tyla is who she thinks she is and Ayra Starr is also who she thinks she is and personally I and a whole lot of other people love them like that.”

READ ALSO: Burna Boy, Ayra Starr’s Songs Make Obama’s Summer Playlist

@BryanJustin7 posted a video of Tyla and Aura singing together with the caption: “Tyla & Ayra ♨️”

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@Ellsx_ said:

Ayra and tyla are like the same to me lmaoo just different skin tones and accents. African baddies 😮‍💨”

‘Water’ by Tyla

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Tyla recently made Billboard Hot 100 history which is her first career entry on the chart as she becomes the youngest South African musician to appear on the list which is the most popular music ranking chart in the US, published weekly.

The viral hit song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, after trending for several weeks on TikTok as Water is the first solo song by a South African musician to appear on the chart since jazz legend Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass 55 years ago.

The TikTok dance challenge has also popularised the South African Bacardi dance routine to a global audience.

“Tyla debuts at number 67 on this week’s Hot 100. It is her first career entry on the chart,” US music and entertainment magazine Billboard, which compiles the list, said on Monday, ahead of the release of the week’s list.

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Tyla also reacted to the news on X, formerly Twitter.

I’m a South African girl born and raised in Johannesburg. This is crazy,” she said.

READ ALSO: Singer Ayra Starr Makes Billboard ’21 Under 21′

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Released in July, Water started gaining popularity in August when Tyla, whose full name is Tyla Laura Seethal, started sharing TikTok videos of herself dancing to it.

The song fuses a mix of genres, including Afrobeats, pop, R&B, and Amapiano, a South African style of electronic dance music.

Water has so far surpassed 3.6 million views on YouTube and attracted 10.7 million monthly Spotify listeners for Tyla.

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Water has also ranked on other music charts in the US and UK, including the Billboard Afrobeats and R&B charts.

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Facebook, Instagram Suspend Idris Abdulkareem’s Accounts After New Song, Open Letter To Donald Trump

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Nigerian rapper and activist Eedris Abdulkareem has announced that his Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended shortly after the release of his new song, Open Letter to Donald Trump.

Abdulkareem, in a report by online news platform, SaharaReporters, on Sunday said that he has been unable to access either account since the release of the track.

“Facebook just suspended my Facebook and Instagram account because of my new song, Open Letter to Donald Trump,” he said. “I can’t access it.”

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Checks confirmed that both accounts are no longer accessible.

Abdulkareem, known for politically charged music and criticism of government policies, did not provide further details on the duration of the suspension imposed by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

READ ALSO:Police Neutralize Two Wanted Bandit Leaders In Abuja, Foil Kidnap Attempt

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Released in November 2025 under his label, Lakreem Entertainment, Open Letter to Donald Trump is framed as a direct address to the former U.S. President but primarily targets Nigeria’s political class.

In the song, Abdulkareem accuses Nigerian leaders of enriching themselves while ordinary citizens endure hardship, describing them as “criminals of all shades and hues” who dominate society. The track references worsening insecurity, including kidnappings, killings, and terrorism, and seeks to draw international attention to Nigeria’s crises.

The song continues Abdulkareem’s tradition of protest music, following his 2004 hit Jaga Jaga and the more recent 2025 release Tell Your Papa, which was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission for allegedly containing “objectionable lyrics” in violation of responsible broadcasting rules. The ban prohibited Nigerian radio and television stations from airing the track.

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Abdulkareem has consistently used his music to challenge political leaders and highlight social injustice, cementing his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most outspoken protest musicians.

READ ALSO:

Recall that in 2020, Abdulkareem accused Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy, of appropriating the works of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti to advance his career.

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Abdulkareem made the remarks in a video interview, responding to a now-deleted tweet by Burna Boy in which he claimed that no one had paved the way for him as an artist.

Abdulkareem argued that Burna Boy’s success relied heavily on Fela’s musical legacy and called on the “Anybody” singer to apologise.

He said that while Fela’s songs carried meaningful messages that enriched the lives of listeners, Burna Boy had borrowed extensively from both Fela and Afrobeat without giving due recognition.

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“I think with due respect, Burna Boy needs to apologise. At least Fela made it happen for you, and you stole a lot from Fela’s songs to become who you are. You stole from Afrobeats to become who you are. Even though Fela’s songs are strictly about messages that add value to the lives of people, what is your song about?” Abdulkareem said.

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Organizers Cancel Burna Boy’s US Shows After Fans Refused To Buy Tickets

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The singer ‘No Sign of Weakness’ US tours including tonight’s performance scheduled for November 28, 2025, at The Armory in Minneapolis was abruptly cancelled after fans failed to buy tickets.

Ticketmaster announced the last minute cancellation on its website on Thursday.

Today’s show was cancelled with another concert scheduled for December 1, 2025, in Chicago.

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READ ALSO:Burna Boy Reveals Fighting Secret Battles

While the tour failed to provide a specific reason for the cancellation, the development came amid the public criticism directed at
Burna Boy after he walked out a couple for sleeping during his performance at Colorado.

The viral video of the incident sparked controversy, which intensified after the singer, while reacting to his critics during an Instagram live session, said “he only wants supporters who buy his tickets and not fans”.

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It was later reported that the woman who slept during his performance was grieving a recent personal loss.

Confirming the cancellation, Burna Boy in a post on his Instagram story on Friday morning shared a direct link from the ticketing website, showing that the two concerts were cancelled.

 

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My Father Regretted Funding My Education After I Became Skit Maker – Sabinus

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Nigerian comedian, Emmanuel Ejekwu, popularly known as Sabinus, has revealed that his father didn’t initially support his decision to become a comedian.

In a candid interview with VJ Adams, Sabinus explained that his dad wanted him to be a lawyer but he eventually settled for Linguistics and Communication Studies after failing to secure a law admission.

He recalled that it was while studying at the University of Port Harcourt that he discovered his comedy talent and start making skits.

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The comedian said when his dad found out that he was a skit maker, he regretted funding his education and described the profession as “stupid business.”

READ ALSO:Why I Don’t Promote Nudity With My Skits – Sabinus

Sabinus said, “At first, my dad never wanted me to be what I am today, he wanted me to be a lawyer. I tried my best but I couldn’t secure a law admission. So, I had to settle for Linguistics and Communication Studies at Uniport.

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“It was on the campus that I saw skit making and I decided to try it out. Money wasn’t coming.

“After I graduated, my dad never knew I was a comedian because I was hiding it. It was one more year after school that he started seeing me on comedy show posters. My sisters confirmed to him that I was into comedy. He was very furious. He fumed, ‘Which comedy? Stupid business. Look at the boy I sent to become a lawyer.’”

The comedian added that his dad eventually gave him his blessings after he started gifting him money from his proceeds from comedy.

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