“I Represent Amapiano” – Tyla Says As She Wins Best Afrobeats At 2024 VMAs [Video]

South African singer, Tyla won her first MTV Video Music Award (VMA) this year and used the opportunity to highlight the diversity of African music.

The 2024 MTV VMAs was held yesterday night at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York, with rapper Megan Thee Stallion hosting the event.

Tyla won the award for Best Afrobeats with her hit song “Water,” beating out tough competition from Burna Boy, Tems, Davido, Ayra Starr, Lojay, and Pheelz.

She was also nominated for Best New Artist and Best R&B.

In her acceptance speech, Tyla called her win “a big moment for Africa,” and said her song “Water” proved that “African music can be pop music too.”

She emphasized that while Afrobeats has paved the way for African artists, it’s wrong to categorize all African music under that label.

The singer explained that she represents Amapiano, a genre from South Africa, and that African music is far more diverse than just Afrobeats.

She said: “The impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world proves that African music can be pop music, too. This is so special but also bittersweet. Because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats.

“Even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.

“I come from South Africa, I represent Amapiano. I present my culture. And I just want to shout out all the Afrobeats artists in this category with me. Shout out to all the Afrobeats artistes Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema and Lojay.”

Watch the video below:

KanyiDaily recalls that South Africans recently dragged Tyla for supporting Chidinma Adetshina, who withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant due to xenophobia and controversy.