South Africa’s very own is making headlines once again. Disney and Pixar have announced that the Grammy Award winner will join the voice cast of Toy Story 5 in an exclusive cameo role for Sub-Saharan African audiences. The film is set to hit theaters on 19 June 2026.

The “Water” hitmaker voices an inflatable flamingo in the region-specific version of the film, marking her debut as a Disney voice actress. This milestone also makes her the first African artist to bring a character to life in the beloved franchise.

“Toy Story has been such a special part of my childhood, so being part of this film is a full-circle moment for me. I’m incredibly excited for audiences to experience it, and it means so much to know that African viewers will hear an African voice bringing one of these beloved characters to life,” Tyla said in a statement.

While she previously contributed music to The Smurfs Movie soundtrack in 2025, Toy Story 5 marks her official debut in animation voice acting. The fifth installment of the fan-favorite series will premiere in South African cinemas on 19 June. It is expected to tackle a theme that many families and young people can relate to: the growing influence of technology and screen time on children’s lives. The film explores how traditional toys compete with modern digital distractions, including a tablet-like character known as Lilypad.

“The story behind Toy Story 5 is so relevant right now because of technology. So many kids are spending time on phones and tablets. It’ll be exciting to see how the film encourages imagination and how children view toys today,” Tyla explained.

This casting places her among an elite group of South African stars to feature in massive Disney productions, including the legendary John Kani, who voiced Rafiki in Disney’s The Lion King remake and the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King.

Excitement Around the Film

Meanwhile, anticipation for the film is building globally. Taylor Swift’s song “I Knew It, I Knew You” (which is featured on the soundtrack) has reportedly been breaking records. Spotify noted that it became the most-streamed country song in a single day by a female artist in the platform’s history.

If you thought Tyla was leaving the mainstream, think again.