The South African star took home the Moonperson for her global hit “Water
(The Post News)- South African singing sensation Tyla has added another prestigious award to her growing trophy cabinet, winning the MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Best Afrobeats for her hit single “Water”.
Tyla, who was nominated alongside Nigerian superstars Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Tems, and Lojay, made history as the first South African artist to win a VMA.During her acceptance speech, Tyla proudly declared, “I come from South Africa.
I represent amapiano. I represent my culture, and I just want to shout out to all the Afrobeats artists in this category with me.” She emphasised her pride in representing amapiano and South African culture on the global stage.
Tyla’s win is a significant moment for African music, and she acknowledged its importance, saying, “This is such a big moment for Africa [and] African music.” However, she also noted that the win is “bittersweet” because of the tendency to group all African artists under the Afrobeats genre. “African music is so diverse, it is more than just Afrobeats,” she said.
Tyla’s speech also highlighted the importance of recognising the diversity of African music. She wants to acknowledge the Afrobeats artists who paved the way for her and continue to push the boundaries of African music.
By winning the VMA, Tyla has become part of this legacy, and her music will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of African artists.Tyla’s trophy cabinet is steadily growing; she already has a Grammy, Billboard, BET, Metro FM Music, Basadi in Music, and now an MTV VMA to add to the lot. Her win is a testament to her talent and dedication to her craft.
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