Afrobeats has opened many doors for us, but African music is so diverse it’s more than just Afrobeats.
South African singer Tyla emerged victorious in the Favourite Afrobeats Artist category at the 51st American Music Awards (AMAs) held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Monday night. She beat Nigerian heavyweights including Asake, Tems, Wizkid, and Rema to claim the award, becoming the first South African and first woman to win since the category’s 2022 inception.
Her viral single Water and growing international profile were widely credited for her success. During her acceptance speech, Tyla said, “This means the world to me. To be recognized on this stage, alongside legends I admire, is a dream come true. Thank you to everyone who believed in me.”
The win sparked renewed debate about genre classification at global music awards, as Tyla clarified at the 2024 MTV VMAs that she does not identify as an Afrobeats artist, stating, “I represent Amapiano and my culture.”
Billie Eilish dominated the night with seven wins, while Beyoncé, Post Malone, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, and Rod Stewart also featured prominently.