I Represent Amapiano: Tyla Celebrates Historic MTV VMA Win for Best Afrobeats
South African superstar Tyla keeps winning, and collecting awards at almost every top awards ceremony internationally and locally. The Joburg-born superstar stated boldly that she represented the amapiano despite winning in the Afrobeats category.
The charismatic singing sensation also had words for the organisers and their lazy classification of African music.
"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."
Tyla won the VMA for Best Afrobeats for her smash hit "Water", she was nominated with Nigerian superstars Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Tems, and Lojay.
During her acceptance speech for her award, Tyla reflected on her win, calling it “special, but also bittersweet”.
"This is such a big moment for Africa [and] African music," began Tyla, as she became the first South African artist to win a VMA.
“This is just so special, but also bittersweet because I know there's a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeat[s]. It's a thing, and even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse, it is more than just Afrobeats.
"I come from South Africa. I represent amapiano. I represent my culture, and I want to shout out [to] all the Afrobeats artists in this category with me."
Afrobeat music evolved in Nigeria in the late 1960s by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and has grown into a global phenomenon. At the same time, amapiano is a sound originating from the townships of South Africa and has also become an international sensation.
In 2023, the Afrobeats category was first introduced and Nigerian superstar Rema won the award for the remix of his global hit “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez.
Tyla’s stellar trophy cabinet is steadily growing; she already has a Grammy, Billboard, BET, Metro FM Music, Basadi in Music, and now she has an MTV Video Music Award to add to the lot.
[Via IOL]