South Africa’s Tyla Wins Best Afrobeats at 2024 MTV VMAs

South African singer Tyla has had a huge impact on the global music stage, winning the Best Afrobeats category at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards for her hit single “Water.” This achievement marks her first-ever Moon Person award, a testament to her rapid rise in the global music scene.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Tyla highlighted the growing influence of African music worldwide. She emphasized that while Afrobeats has become a dominant genre, African music is far more diverse. “The global impact that “Water” has had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music too,” she said. She further noted, “Even though Afrobeats has run things and opened so many doors, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.” Tyla also took the moment to celebrate her South African roots and the rise of Amapiano, a genre she proudly represents.

Tyla’s win at the MTV VMAs adds to her already impressive list of accolades. She has previously won a Grammy Award for “Best African Music Performance,” two BET Awards for “Best International Act” and “Best New Artist,” and a Billboard Global Impact Award. Tyla’s win reinforces her significance in moulding the global perception of African music, which transcends boundaries and genres.