By Milcah Tanimu
South African singer Tyla won the Best Afrobeats category at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) for her hit single “Water.” However, her acceptance speech has stirred controversy, particularly among Nigerian fans. During her speech, Tyla expressed her pride in representing Amapiano, a South African music genre, rather than Afrobeats, despite winning in the Afrobeats category.
“I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists as Afrobeats. Even though Afrobeats has opened doors, African music is diverse,” Tyla stated, adding, “I represent Amapiano and my culture.”
This declaration has led to criticism, especially from Nigerian media personality Do2tun, who questioned why Tyla accepted the award if she did not identify with the genre. Do2tun argued that if Tyla felt miscategorized, she should have rejected the award or nomination.
Tyla’s remarks have fueled ongoing discussions about the distinction between Afrobeats and other African music genres like Amapiano, sparking a wider debate on how African music is represented globally.
[Tyla’s 2024 VMAs Win](https://www.mtv.com/vma)
[Do2tun’s Instagram Response](https://www.instagram.com/do2tun)
