Tammy Moyo makes Grammy history claim for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean singer Tammy Moyo has reached a new international milestone after her team submitted her song "Away", from the album Royalty, for consideration in the Best African Music Performance category at the 69th annual Grammy Awards.

Moyo says she is the first homegrown Zimbabwean artist to receive Grammy consideration, describing the development as a significant moment for the country's music industry.

She stressed, however, that consideration is not the same as an official nomination. Artists from across the world submit their work for review, after which entries are screened and assigned to suitable categories before the final nominees are selected.

Moyo said her team conducted the necessary research and handled the submission, adding that being considered by the Recording Academy was recognition at an international level.

She also highlighted the contribution of the wider team behind "Away", saying a nomination would recognise everyone involved in the project. Those she credited included producers Rodney Beats, Delroy Shewa and Levels, alongside the mixing and mastering engineers, songwriters, stylists and videographers.

Zimbabwean musicians and producers have previously worked on Grammy-recognised projects. Producer Brian Soko is among those who have made an impact internationally, while Dr Chai and Bantu have worked on Grammy-winning productions. Singer Tinashe has also received a Grammy nomination.

Moyo maintains that her achievement is distinctive because she submitted her work as an artist based in Zimbabwe.

She hopes the development will encourage greater international collaboration and open opportunities for exchange programmes, allowing more Zimbabwean musicians and cultural ambassadors to showcase their work on global platforms.

The singer urged fellow artists to invest in understanding the business side of music, recommending workshops organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. She also encouraged musicians to learn about publishing, streaming and distribution, noting that success requires more than accumulating views and streams.

Moyo has been performing since the age of seven and has steadily expanded her international profile. She recently appeared at the Jacaranda Music Festival and shared a stage with American singer Jason Derulo at the Stanbic Music Festival in Lusaka, Zambia. She also won Outstanding Female Musician at the 2025 National Arts Merit Awards.

Her musical versatility has seen her collaborate across genres, including working with sungura musician Mark Ngwazi on "Husiku Hwese" and collaborating with dancehall artists.

Moyo said sungura places strong emphasis on melody, while dancehall relies heavily on beat and groove, adding that she does not want to be confined to a single musical style.

The Grammy consideration was also highlighted in a post by Billboard, further drawing international attention to the development.

Moyo described the milestone as a victory for Zimbabwe, expressing hope that it would inspire other local artists to pursue opportunities in the global music industry.