Review: Tyla’s final homecoming concert

The excitement was palpable at Time Square’s Sun Bet Arena as concert-goers filled the venue to witness the last leg of Tyla’s homecoming concert series. During the event, Tyla showcased her signature blend of pop, R&B, and amapiano sounds, paired with her distinctive dance moves, with support from energetic dancers. She kept the audience captivated with hit songs including ‘Jump’, ‘Truth or Dare’ and ‘Water".  

She was joined on stage by fellow artists DaliWonga ,Optimist Music ZA, Ez Maestro and selected members of the audience, transforming the stage into a giant amapiano party. 

The sold-out show attracted an array of fans, media personalities, influencers, and TV figures. The diversity in the audience, ranging from families with young girls donning Tyla merchandise to teens and young adults, highlighted her widespread appeal and solidified her status as a rising pop star. Judging by the exhilarated faces of fans leaving the venue, it was evident the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

One influencer from the AbsaXTyla Squad, who attended the previous shows, described the event as the best of the homecoming series, noting that Tyla’s stage presence, vocals, and choreography had reached new heights, possibly to captivate viewers tuning in via the live stream.

In a ground-breaking move to expand the concert’s reach, Showmax live-streamed the event to 44 countries across the continent. MultiChoice South Africa chief marketing officer Yatish Narsi at Showmax said: “With our advanced live-streaming technology, we’re thrilled to spotlight Tyla’s iconic homecoming concert. This marks our first live-streamed entertainment event, underscoring our commitment to making world-class experiences accessible across the continent.”

Absa managing executive for brand and marketing Candice Thurston said: “As the first live-streamed event on the Showmax platform, it not only showcases Tyla’s pioneering talent but also reaffirms our commitment to celebrating, capturing, and sharing authentic African stories of excellence. We’re proud to bring this experience to our customers and Tyla fans across our 12 diverse markets, uniting them through the power of music and storytelling.”

Tyla’s rise to international fame, highlighted by her sold-out homecoming concerts in Cape Town and Pretoria in December 2024 and the grand finale in Pretoria this weekend, underscores her status as a world-class pop artist. Her success is a testament to the fact that young African women can shine on the global music stage.

The youngest-ever African Grammy winner’s debut album, TYLA, has amassed over 1.6 billion streams worldwide, further cementing her place as a global sensation.

However, while many viewers praised the live stream’s high-quality visuals and smooth performance with no glitches or buffering, others voiced concerns on social media about the sound quality during the broadcasting.