Tyla’s highly anticipated, sold-out homecoming concert at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria has officially set a new benchmark for African entertainment. Not only did it captivate a live audience, but the event also reached 44 countries through a pioneering live stream on Showmax.
This monumental achievement has been hailed as a game-changer, showcasing the immense potential of African streaming platforms to deliver world-class live entertainment and compete on a global scale.
Fans who missed the live event can now catch Tyla’s concert on-demand on Showmax, available since Thursday, January 30. For those who prefer traditional television, the concert will air on Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163) on Saturday, February 1, at 8:30 PM, with a repeat on Tuesday, February 4, at 4 PM.
Broadening Accessibility with Mzansi Wethu
The inclusion of Tyla’s concert on “Mzansi Wethu,” which is available on all DStv packages from Access and up, ensures that fans across South Africa can enjoy this landmark event without barriers. This step reflects a broader commitment to making premium African entertainment more accessible.
A New Standard for African Live Streaming
The success of the live-streamed concert highlights the readiness of African platforms like Showmax to compete on a global scale. Unlike Netflix’s widely publicized issues with its live-streamed “Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson” fight, which faced widespread buffering and outages affecting over 90,000 viewers, Tyla’s concert experienced minimal technical disruptions.
While some viewers noted concerns about audio quality during the stream, Showmax confidently addressed the feedback.
“There were no sound issues reported on the technical side,” a spokesperson from Showmax explained. “Live concerts come with unique challenges, and while some viewers mentioned sound concerns, less than 1% of the social media commentary reflected this. Overwhelmingly, 99.99% of the feedback was positive, which reinforces our belief that our audience enjoyed a fantastic experience.”
Industry Leaders Weigh In
Yatish Narsi, Chief Marketing Officer for MultiChoice and Showmax South Africa, described this accomplishment as a turning point.
“Scaling to support viewers across multiple countries required extensive preparation and coordination, showcasing what’s possible when local platforms push the boundaries of technology,” Narsi said.
Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie also weighed in on the broader implications of this achievement.
“Tyla is leading the way, but if Showmax continues to spotlight our talent, more African artists will gain the visibility they deserve, both continentally and globally,” McKenzie said.
A Bright Future for African Talent
The success of Tyla’s live-streamed concert represents more than just a win for the artist—it’s a victory for African music and entertainment as a whole. This milestone opens doors for more African artists to share their talent with the world, positioning platforms like Showmax as powerful vehicles for global recognition.
As Tyla’s career continues to rise, her homecoming concert will stand as a defining moment, not only for her journey but for the future of African entertainment on the global stage.
