South African music star, Tyla won the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) category for Best Afrobeats with her smash record, “Water” on Wednesday, September 11 at UBS Arena in New York.
While accepting the Moonperson, she took the opportunity to share how proud she is to represent her home continent, as well as the “tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats.”
After taking the stage, she sweetly asked the presenters to hold onto her award, jokingly as she said, “I’m not strong enough,” and then went into her thoughtful speech.
“The global impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music too,” she began.
This is just so special, but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats,” Tyla continued.
“It’s a thing, and even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.”
Others in the Best Afrobeats category included
Ayra Starr featuring Giveon for “Last Heartbreak Song,
” Burna Boy for “City Boys,”
Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay for “Sensational,”
Tems for “Love Me JeJe,” and Usher for “Pheelz.”
Tyla was among this year’s first-time nominees. Aside from Best Afrobeats, she’s also up for the coveted Best New Artist award, as well as Best R&B for “Water.”