South African music sensation Tyla made history at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). She became the first female African artist to win the prestigious Best Afrobeats award. Her groundbreaking victory was a testament to the immense talent and diversity of African music. This challenges the narrow perception that African music is solely represented by Afrobeats.
Hosted by the dynamic Megan Thee Stallion at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York, the 2024 VMAs showcased a significant breakthrough for African music. Tyla’s chart-topping hit “Water” secured her the coveted Best Afrobeats award.
With this award, she matches up with a stellar lineup of African artists. These artists include Burna Boy, Tems, Davido, Ayra Starr, Lojay, and Pheelz. Additionally, she was nominated for Best New Artist and Best RnB.
After receiving her award from the iconic Lil Nas X and Halle Bailey, Tyla expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the VMAs. She emphasized the significance of her win for Africa. She highlighted that the success of “Water” not only had a global impact. Also, the song demonstrated the immense potential of African music to transcend genres and become mainstream pop.
“Like this is just so special but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats,” she said. “African music is so diverse, it’s more than just Afrobeats.”
Tyla’s victory follows in the footsteps of Rema, who claimed the inaugural Best Afrobeats award last year for his hit song “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez. This series of wins underscores the growing recognition and appreciation for African music on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift dominated the night with an impressive seven wins, tying for the most overall awards. Eminem also made a significant impact, securing the most solo male artist wins.
