South African singer, Tyla has voiced concerns over the Western entertainment industry’s tendency to categorize all African music as Afrobeats.
Accepting the award for Best Afrobeats Song at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Tyla acknowledged the genre’s role in advancing African music globally but criticized the oversimplification of African musical diversity.
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During her acceptance speech, Tyla highlighted the global impact of her hit single “Water” and emphasized that African music extends beyond Afrobeats.
“Although Afrobeats has opened many doors for us, it’s important to recognize that African music is diverse and encompasses more than just this genre,” she said.
Tyla, who identifies with the Amapiano genre from South Africa, underscored her cultural representation and expressed appreciation for fellow Afrobeats artists, including Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, and Lojay.
Tyla gave a special shout out to Wizkid, Tems, Ayra Starr, Rema and Burna Boy & Lojay at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/RYILgT4lQp
— The Enclave (@TheEnclave_HQ) September 12, 2024