South African celebrities made remarkable strides on the global stage in 2023, representing the country with excellence and talent. From dominating international music charts to performing at world-renowned events, these stars have made South Africa proud.
Tyla
Tyla Laura Seethal, fondly called Tyla, became a global sensation with her hit single “Water.” Since its release in July 2023, the song became a top 10 hit in several countries, including the UK and Australia. It also made history as the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 since Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” 55 years ago.
The track later reached the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 and climbed to number one on the Billboard Rhythmic Airplay chart, surpassing global stars like Drake and SZA. The “Water” challenge took over TikTok, making Tyla a household name worldwide. She followed this success with her single “Truth or Dare” and prepared for her self-titled album release.
Uncle Waffles
Uncle Waffles had a phenomenal year, solidifying her place in the global music scene. In April 2023, she made history as the first amapiano DJ to perform on one of the main stages at the prestigious Coachella Festival.
She went on to sell out her first international headline show at the Great Hall, Avant Gardner in New York, and signed a deal with global fast-food franchise KFC. Uncle Waffles also earned two Grammy nominations — Best Global Music Album for “Asylum” and Best African Music Performance for “Yahyuppiyah.”
Her achievements include gracing magazine covers like Forbes Africa and Galore Magazine, and receiving the Woman of the Year award at the GQ Men of the Year 2023 ceremony.
DJ Black Coffee
After winning a Grammy in 2022, DJ Black Coffee continued to make waves in 2023. He became the first South African artist to perform at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
He also delivered a guest lecture at Harvard Business School in the US and was honoured at the British GQ Men of the Year 2023 event. Black Coffee was ranked number 25 on DJ Mag’s list of the Top 100 DJs worldwide.
To end the year, he partnered with entrepreneur Themba “Euphonik” Nkosi and retail pioneer Arie Fabian to open the first Amiri store in Sandton, introducing the international luxury fashion brand to South Africa.
Trevor Noah
Comedian Trevor Noah continued to fly the South African flag high across the globe during his international comedy tour. In 2023, he received the prestigious Dutch Erasmus Prize, becoming the first humorist to win the award since Charlie Chaplin in 1965.
Noah also earned his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance in Stand-up Comedy on Television for his Netflix special “Where Was I.” He was nominated alongside Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, and Wanda Sykes.
To cap off a successful year, Trevor Noah announced that he would return to host the Grammy Awards for the fourth consecutive time in 2024.
Thuso Mbedu
Award-winning actress Thuso Mbedu continued to shine internationally following her acclaimed performance in “The Woman King.” In 2023, she joined the L’Oréal Paris roster of global brand ambassadors, alongside Gemma Chan and Anushka Sharma.
Mbedu served as a judge for Miss South Africa 2023, inspiring contestants to embrace individuality and confidence. She also walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week for the Le Défilé show hosted by L’Oréal Paris.
Additionally, Mbedu landed a new role in Brad Ingelsby’s HBO crime series, portraying Aleah, a detective recruited for a special task force. She also voiced a character in Netflix’s “Castlevania: Nocturne.”
These five stars — Tyla, Uncle Waffles, DJ Black Coffee, Trevor Noah, and Thuso Mbedu — showcased South Africa’s talent and cultural influence on the world stage throughout 2023.
