South African singer Tyla made history at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) by winning the Best Afrobeat award for her viral hit song Water.

While her win has brought immense joy to her fans, the victory also stirred a wave of mixed reactions across social media. Critics are particularly focused on the classification of her music as Afrobeat, leading to discussions on the representation of African music in global platforms.

A Bittersweet Win

Tyla, known for her contributions to the Amapiano genre, expressed her excitement but also called the win “bittersweet.”

She shared that while it’s an honor to be recognized, there’s still a lack of understanding of the differences between African music genres. Many critics echoed these sentiments, questioning why a South African Amapiano artist was given an Afrobeat award.

Public Reactions

While Tyla’s win brought celebration, it also sparked debate. Many fans and industry experts took to social media to voice their thoughts on whether the right artist was recognized. One user, @johnoGogo on X (formerly Twitter), wrote, “How did this song even qualify as Afrobeats? This is not the sound we know.”

Another user, @AfroKing on Facebook, expressed frustration: “There are so many real Afrobeat artists out there. Tyla winning feels like a misrepresentation of African music.”

@MelanieNia, who also chimed in on Instagram, commented, “Grouping all African music under Afrobeats at these awards is lazy. There’s more to African music than just this one genre. Amapiano and Afrobeat are completely different!”

@KelechiJr shared, “Tyla is talented, but this shows how global award shows don’t fully understand African music.” His comments reflect a broader sentiment that African music, in all its diversity, deserves more thoughtful recognition.

Similarly, @RealAfroSound, a music enthusiast, stated, “This win should have gone to someone making true Afrobeats music. We love Tyla, but this category wasn’t the right fit.”

Another commentator @hunter99, wrote, ”The way MTV is going with this award, it has lost credibility and we wont be surprised tomorrow if the same lady wins best gospel singer of the year”

Finally, @ZamaSA added a balanced perspective: “Let’s celebrate Tyla’s achievement as a South African artist. It’s big for us! But we do need clearer categories for African music.”

The discussion around Tyla’s win goes beyond her music, touching on the broader issue of how African music is often generalized at international award shows.

With the rise of distinct genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, and others, fans and critics alike are calling for more accurate representation in global awards.

Despite the negative comments, many of Tyla’s supporters highlighted the importance of her achievement. She is the first South African artist to take home a VMA, marking a significant milestone in her career and for South African music.

Moving Forward

Tyla’s win has opened up an important conversation about the global recognition of African music.

While her award may have sparked some controversy, it also highlights the growing influence of African artists on the world stage. The challenge now lies in ensuring that the rich diversity of African music is acknowledged and celebrated without overgeneralization.