Tyla credits Brenda Fassie and Lebo Mathosa as her biggest South African music inspirations

South African pop queen Tyla is having that era of global fame, Grammy glitz, and all. But even superstars have idols, and for Tyla, her girlhood playlist was blessed with the voices of two Mzansi icons who walked so she could strut: Brenda Fassie and Lebo Mathosa.

In a recent "GLAMOUR" Girlhood Q&A, the "Water" hitmaker opened up about the women who shaped her sound and spirit. “I really admired Brenda Fassie and Lebo Mathosa,” she said without missing a beat. “They were like our pop stars.”

If you grew up in a South African home where Fassie’s "Vul’indlela" played at every family function, or where Mathosa’s dangerous music videos were the blueprint for unapologetic confidence, you already know exactly what Tyla means.

These women were cultural revolutionaries with a beat.

Fassie, affectionately known as the Madonna of the Townships, had a voice that could wake up an entire street, literally. Her fearless lyrics and rebellious energy made her a voice for the people.

Songs like "Weekend Special" and "Too Late for Mama"  defined the charts for decades. She sang about love, loss, and the messy beauty of everyday life with the kind of passion that made you want to live louder.

Then came Mathosa, the golden-haired diva of Boom Shaka fame, who brought Y2K attitude before it was even a thing.

With songs like "Ntozabantu" and "Au Dede", she embodied a new generation of bold, boundary-breaking women who owned their bodies, their sound, and their stage.

So, when Tyla says she grew up with their music, it just makes sense; it’s practically in our DNA. Fassie and Mathosa were the soundtrack to our childhoods, their songs stitched into every family gathering, long drive, and heartbreak.

With her own mix of sultry pop and amapiano flair, these trailblazers were proof that local girls could go global. “Their music was just so infectious; it was everywhere in South Africa. And they were women, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

It’s actually refreshing to hear Tyla name local legends instead of the usual international suspects.

Too often, when rising stars are asked about their influences, we hear the same list, Beyoncé this, Rihanna that and while they’re iconic in their own right, it’s easy to forget that we’ve got our own powerhouses right here at home.