Tyla continues her winning streak. Recently at the UBS Arena in New York, the South African pop sensation secured her second MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Best Afrobeats with the popular track “Water,” solidifying her position in the global music scene.
During her acceptance speech, Tyla expressed that the award was “special but also bittersweet,” highlighting the issue of western awards often categorizing all African artists as part of the Afrobeats genre. “While Afrobeats has gained recognition and opened pathways for us, we must remember that African music is incredibly diverse,” she remarked.
This reflects a continuing debate in which African musicians are seeking to separate their identities from the Afrobeats label. Tyla mentioned her artistic identity as an amapiano artist, which has sparked discussions given the pop elements in her music. Nonetheless, she broached a topic that resonates deeply within the industry.
“As a South African, I represent my culture and the amapiano genre,” she stated, while also recognizing Tems, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and other nominees in her category.
One of the most impactful moments of her speech was her assertion: “The global success of ‘Water’ shows that African music can stand alongside pop music on the world stage.”
You can watch her full speech below:
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