South African sensation Tyla has made history by winning the Best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), held at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York. Her hit single, Water, stood out among stiff competition, edging out Nigerian stars like Tems, Ayra Starr, Davido, and Burna Boy for the prestigious title.
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This victory marks a significant milestone in Tyla’s rise to global fame, adding to her impressive string of achievements this year, including previous wins at the BET Awards and Grammy Awards.
The Afrobeats category at the VMAs continues to recognize African artists, further highlighting the genre’s impact on global pop culture. However, during her acceptance speech, Tyla also expressed her desire to see African music recognized beyond just Afrobeats, pointing out that the continent’s sounds are incredibly diverse.
“This is such a special moment, but also bittersweet,” Tyla remarked. She added, “African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats” — a statement that resonates with the growing recognition of other African genres like Amapiano, which Tyla herself represents.
The win not only underscores Tyla’s growing influence but also shines a light on Africa’s expanding footprint in the global music scene. Her ability to connect with fans across continents demonstrates that African music is no longer confined to its origins but is taking center stage in international pop culture.
Report gathered by Naijay.com also shows that Tyla’s Water has been a dominant force throughout the award season, following previous wins like the Best African Song Performance at the Grammys. This marks another high point for African artists after Rema’s triumph in 2023 with Calm Down, further cementing the continent’s influence in global music.
With artists like Tyla taking the lead, African music is undeniably moving to new heights, continuing to shape the global soundscape with its richness and diversity. Naijay.com learned that Tyla’s success has sparked conversations about the future of African music on the world stage, with many predicting even greater accomplishments ahead for the rising star.
This was an exciting moment for African music, as it proves that African artists are not only creating genre-defining music but also reshaping global perceptions of what pop music can be.
