South African pop sensation Tyla made history at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) by becoming the first South African artist to win a coveted VMA. For her hit single “Water,” she took home the award in the Best Afrobeats category. The event occurred at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, marking a monumental moment for African music on the global stage.
Tyla’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
During her acceptance speech, Tyla expressed the mix of emotions she felt at that moment, saying, “This is so special, but also bittersweet.” The young artist, visibly moved, shared her gratitude with her supporters, team, and fans, whom she affectionately calls her Tygers. She also humorously remarked on the weight of the trophy, jokingly asking Lil Nas X, standing nearby, to help her hold it.
She said, “You guys know me and holding awards, yoh hai. I’m not strong enough.”
Tyla accepts the award for best afrobeats for “Water” at the 2024 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/PVTeHQI8Sc
— BOUNCE (@bouncenetworks) September 12, 2024
Impact of ‘Water’ and African Music
Tyla’s award-winning track, “Water,” has gained remarkable international recognition, boasting over 230 million views on YouTube and nearing 800 million streams on Spotify. In her speech, Tyla highlighted the song’s global impact and significance for African music, stating, “The global impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music too.”
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She emphasized the diversity of African music, noting that while Afrobeats has opened numerous doors for African artists, it is not the only genre from the continent. “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 added.
Honouring Fellow African Artists
During her heartfelt speech, Tyla acknowledged other leading African artists who were nominated in the same category. She mentioned Tems, Ayra Starr, Lojay, Rema, Wizkid, and Burna Boy before proudly declaring, “Africa to the world.” The Afrobeats category, introduced at the VMAs in 2023, had previously been awarded to Rema and Selena Gomez, making Tyla the first solo artist to take home the prestigious honour.
Other Highlights of the 2024 VMAs
The night wasn’t just Tyla’s. Taylor Swift dominated the event, walking away with a staggering seven awards, including the top prize of Video of the Year for her collaboration with Post Malone on the song “Fortnight.”
Additional notable wins included Sabrina Carpenter for Song of the Year and Chappell Roan for Best New Artist. Big names like SZA, Eminem, Lenny Kravitz, and Blackpink’s Lisa took home honours at the ceremony, making it a memorable night for fans across genres.
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