South African singer, Tyla, has voiced her concerns regarding the Western entertainment industry’s habit of labeling all African music under the Afrobeats category, which she believes fails to capture the true diversity of the continent's sound. While receiving her award for Best Afrobeats Song at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Tyla took the opportunity to address the issue.
During her acceptance speech, she recognized the powerful role Afrobeats has played in elevating African music to global recognition, opening doors for many African artists. However, she emphasized that it is a mistake to assume all music from Africa belongs to this genre, as the continent boasts a wide array of musical styles.
Tyla explained that she comes from South Africa and that she represents Amapiano, a genre distinct from Afrobeats, which reflects her culture and musical identity. She added that although Afrobeats has greatly contributed to the global recognition of African music, it is vital to acknowledge the richness and diversity of the continent's musical landscape.
“The incredible impact that my song ‘Water’ has had across the world is proof that African music is not just limited to one genre—it can be pop music, too,” she stated. “While this is a moment of celebration, it’s also bittersweet because there’s still a tendency to classify all African artists under Afrobeats, and that needs to change.”
She further emphasized the value and uniqueness of African music, saying, “Even though Afrobeats has been a dominant force, opening so many doors for African artists, we must also recognize that African music is extremely diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.”
Tyla proudly declared, “I come from South Africa, and I represent Amapiano, a genre that embodies my culture and my roots. African music is not monolithic, and we must celebrate its variety.”
Before concluding her speech, she took a moment to give a shout-out to her fellow African artists, particularly those in the Afrobeats category. “I want to shout out to all the incredible Afrobeats artists who were nominated with me tonight. Shout out to Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, and Lojay. You’ve all contributed so much to African music, and this is just the beginning for us.”
