Tyla Celebrates Afrobeats Influence After Winning Big at MTV EMAs

South African singer Tyla recently celebrated her sweeping victories at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), where she claimed titles for Best Afrobeats, Best African Act, and Best R&B. Tyla’s achievements underscore her growing prominence in African music, surpassing well-known artists such as Ayra Starr, DBN Gogo, Diamond Platnumz, and TitoM & Yuppe.

During her acceptance speech, Tyla recognized the powerful influence of Afrobeats, attributing her success in part to the genre’s role in elevating African music on the global stage. “Thank you to Afrobeats, it has opened many doors for African music,” she said. Her acknowledgment reflects Afrobeats’ worldwide popularity and its impact on contemporary African music, including her own unique blend of sounds.

This recognition follows her recent triumph at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), where she won Best African Act and celebrated her Amapiano roots, specifically for her hit single “Water,” which combines elements of Amapiano with Afrobeats. Amapiano, a genre with roots in South Africa, has gained international appeal, and Tyla’s cross-genre approach has resonated widely with audiences. Her success at both the VMAs and EMAs represents a significant crossover moment for African music, demonstrating the global appetite for African genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano.

Tyla’s victory is also notable as she contended against top Nigerian artists such as Asake, Rema, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and Tems, who have each contributed significantly to the African music landscape and Afrobeats’ global success. These artists have been instrumental in popularizing African music worldwide, and Tyla’s achievements reinforce the idea that the genre has expanded beyond regional borders, now encompassing various African sounds and styles.

Tyla’s rise is a testament to how African artists are redefining and blending musical genres, with Afrobeats providing a foundation upon which artists from diverse backgrounds can build. As Tyla acknowledged, the genre has opened doors not only for her but for countless African musicians striving for recognition. Her wins highlight the diversity within African music and the unity Afrobeats fosters among artists from different African countries, creating a shared platform that transcends language, culture, and borders.

With her success, Tyla is helping to pave the way for more African artists to gain international recognition and challenge global music industry norms. Her victories signal a bright future for African music as it continues to gain ground on international stages, with Afrobeats, Amapiano, and other African genres setting new standards for creativity and global appeal.