Tyla Calls Out Mislabeling of African Music as Afrobeats

At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, South African singer Tyla addressed a significant issue in the music industry: the tendency to label all African music as Afrobeats.

While accepting her award for Best Afrobeats Song, Tyla recognized the genre’s influence and the opportunities it has created for African artists. However, she stressed that it is incorrect to categorize all African music under the Afrobeats label.

Tyla explained, “The success of ‘Water’ shows that African music can be pop music, too. This moment is special but bittersweet because there’s a habit of grouping all African artists into Afrobeats.”

She highlighted the diversity within African music, saying, “Even though Afrobeats has achieved a lot and opened many doors, African music is more than just Afrobeats.”

Representing her native South Africa and the Amapiano genre, Tyla underscored her commitment to showcasing her cultural heritage. She also paid tribute to fellow Afrobeats artists, including Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, and Lojay.