Culture Craze
Tyla’s ‘Water’ at SONA 2026 sparks backlash amid South Africa’s water crisis
There are certain songs you expect to hear on the radio, at Groove, or blasting from a car window in summer. Hearing one of them at the State of the Nation Address is not usually on that list.
Yet that is exactly what happened on Thursday, 12 February, when the national military brass band performed Tyla’s global hit Water outside Cape Town City Hall ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 address.
For a brief moment, SONA felt less like a formal political fixture and more like a cultural crossover. The Grammy-winning star’s chart topper, reimagined with brass instruments, drifted through the historic venue. Some heard it as a proud salute to a young South African who has taken local sound to the world. Others heard something else entirely.
A song choice that hit differently
The timing is what turned a musical interlude into a national talking point.
South Africa remains in the grip of a prolonged water crisis, with ongoing shortages affecting communities across the country. Against that backdrop, the performance of Water felt ironic to many South Africans who are still navigating dry taps and water tank deliveries.
Broadcast journalist Mandy Wiener shared a clip of the moment on X, drawing attention to the contrast between the song’s title and the lived reality of millions. The reactions were swift and divided.
Some social media users were delighted. One user wrote that they thought they were imagining it when they heard the band strike up Water. For fans of Tyla, the moment symbolised how far South African music has travelled, from township dance floors to global charts and now to the country’s most formal political stage.
Others were not amused. Critics described the choice as tone-deaf, arguing that it reflected a political leadership out of touch with everyday struggles. One comment suggested it showed how far removed the ruling party is from citizens facing water cuts.
The debate was not really about the band itself. As one user pointed out, the military musicians are not responsible for the water crisis. But symbolism matters, especially at an event as significant as SONA.
These morons are literally playing "Water" by Tyla at SONA 🤣🤣🤣
You can't make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/uE92jJTPir
— 𝖱𝖤𝖢𝖮𝖭𝟣 ®✞ (@Recon1_ZA) February 12, 2026
A week of water controversy
The musical moment did not happen in isolation.
Just days earlier, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi faced criticism after revealing that he sometimes checks into a hotel to bathe when water outages affect his area. He made the remarks while addressing residents during a visit to a reservoir in Brixton, stating that officials do not receive special treatment and experience the same shortages as everyone else.
The comments, however, struck a nerve.
Media personality Thando Thabethe reacted to a clip of his remarks with nauseated face emojis on X. Meanwhile, Sol Phenduka from Podcast and Chill shared that he heads to the gym to shower during outages, adding that booking a hotel felt like another level.
Against this backdrop, the SONA performance of Water seemed to pour fuel on an already simmering conversation.
— Thando Thabethe (@Thando_Thabethe) February 12, 2026
Culture meets politics
There is another way to look at the moment.
Tyla’s Water is not just a song. It is a cultural milestone. The track propelled her into international stardom and positioned South African pop and amapiano-influenced sounds firmly on the global map. Hearing it at SONA could be read as a recognition of that achievement.
In a country where music often becomes the soundtrack to political change and social commentary, it is perhaps inevitable that a song titled Water would carry extra weight right now.
Was it tone-deaf? Was it simply unfortunate timing? Or was it a proud, if complicated, celebration of local talent?
What is clear is that in 2026, even a brass band performance at SONA can spark a national debate. In South Africa, culture and politics are never far apart, and sometimes a single song is enough to remind us of that.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Smile 90.4FM
