The singer won in the category ahead of global artists including Femi Kuti for “Pà Pá Pà”, Wizkid and Tems for “Essence”, Angélique Kidjo and Burna Boy “Do Yourself” and Yo-Yo Ma and Angélique Kidjo “Blewu”.

“I think I’m gonna faint. Wow thank you so much. I feel like this category in and of itself has been so insane,” said Aftab in her acceptance speech. “Burna Boy, Wizkid, Femi Kuti, Angélique Kidjo - should this be called Best World Music Performance? I feel like it should be called yacht party category. But, anyway, thank you so much to everyone who helped me make this record, all my incredible collaborators, for following me and making this music I made about everything that broke me and put me back together. Thank you for listening to it and making it yours,” she added.

Aftab was also nominated for the coveted Best New Artist award, which was won by singer Olivia Rodrigo.

Speaking to Variety at the pre-gala ceremony about being the first Pakistani to be nominated for two Grammy awards, Aftab said, “It’s a really proud moment for me but also for the industry to have this limitless, unapologetic inclusion… It feels like a great day for music.”

Aftab’s win at the 64th Grammy awards is significant as she’s a member of a group of artists that is striving to make non-English music a part of the mainstream.

The 36-year-old has steadily made her place in the music industry by reimagining old ghazals and poetry by setting them to original music or transforming existing songs completely.

Congratulatory messages for the singer have started to pour in on social media.