Tyla Sparks Debate on Afrobeats and African Music Diversity at MTV VMA

South African singer Tyla stirred controversy during her acceptance speech at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards after winning the Best Afrobeats Award.

While expressing gratitude, she described the moment as “special but bittersweet,” clarifying that she represents Amapiano, not Afrobeats. Tyla emphasized that African music is far more diverse than just Afrobeats, though she acknowledged the genre’s influence.

Her remarks, however, sparked criticism, with popular OAP Do2dtun questioning her stance. He argued that her award-winning song “Water” isn’t Amapiano either, suggesting she should have rejected the award if she felt miscategorized.

With over 230 million YouTube views and nearly 800 million Spotify streams, “Water” continues to make waves, but Tyla’s position raises important questions about how African music is perceived globally.