Defeats Tems, Ayra Starr, Others to Win Best Afrobeats Category
By Halimah Olamide
South African music star, Tyla has made history as she is now the first South African to win an MTV Video Music Awards.
The Joburg-born star clinched the award for Best Afrobeats category, therefore defeating Tems, Ayra Starr, BurnaBoy and others.
The ‘Water’ crooner stated boldly that she represented the amapiano despite winning in the Afrobeats category.
Tyla also had words for the organisers and their classification of African music.
“I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists as Afrobeats. Even though Afrobeats has run things and opened doors for us, African music is so diverse,” Tyla said.
“I come from South Africa and I represent Amapiano and my culture,” Tyla added.
She therefore made a shoutout out to Rema, Tems, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Wikzid, Davido, and other Afrobeats acts with whom she was nominated.
She described her win as “special, but also bittersweet”.
“This is such a big moment for Africa, and African music,
“This is just so special, but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats.
“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 is more than just Afrobeats.”
Tyla was also nominated for Best New Artist and Best R&B.