In an unforgettable night at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards, South African artist Tyla made history by winning three major awards: Best African Act, Best New Artist, and Best Song for her breakout hit, “Water.” The 24-year-old’s fusion of Afrobeat, pop, and dancehall has captured the attention of global audiences, and her viral success continues to soar.

Tyla’s victory marks a major milestone in her rapidly growing career, with “Water” becoming a chart-topping sensation across streaming platforms. In a backstage interview, Tyla expressed her excitement, saying, “This is just the beginning. I’m honored to represent Africa on the world stage.”

With her unique sound and growing fanbase, Tyla is quickly becoming a global force in music. The future looks incredibly bright for this rising star, whose influence is only expected to expand. However, mixed reactions have hit the social media space about how controversial it is that Tyla accepts an award in the Afrobeats category after claiming that she does not make Afrobeats music.

A user, @Mudi_Vibes tweeted “This same one hit wonder, Tyla came out publicly to say she does not do Afrobeats but Amapiano, which is fine. Why then is she winning an Award clearly categorized for Afrobeats Artists?”

Other users lament over her win against the likes of Asake, Burna Boy, Tems, and Arya Starr, referring to Tyla as an industry plant. This, however, did not take away from Tyla’s gracefulness as she accepted her award with a powerful speech, saying, “This is special but also bittersweet ’cause there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats. African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats. I come from South Africa, and I represent Amapiano”. The superstar then gave televised shoutouts to her fellow nominees, Ayra Starr and Tems.