Nigerian music trio Burna Boy, Tems, and Ayra Starr were left empty-handed at the recently concluded 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, with South Africa’s Tyla taking home the prestigious award.
The event, which took place at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York, saw Tyla being presented with the award by Lil Nas X and Halle Bailey.
In her acceptance speech, Tyla expressed her gratitude to the show’s organizers and described her win as a “big moment for Africa.”
She emphasized the global impact of her hit song “Water,” stating that it showcased that “African music can be pop music too.”
Tyla also highlighted the diversity of African music beyond the popular Afrobeats genre, expressing her hope to break free from the categorization of all African artists under Afrobeats.
Tyla’s win follows the success of Rema, who clinched the inaugural Best Afrobeats award last year for his song “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez.
The night belonged to Taylor Swift, who secured seven wins, tying for the most wins overall, while Eminem claimed the most solo male artist wins.
The event also saw a star-studded lineup of winners in various categories, including Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, and many more.
From Best Pop to Best Rock, Best Latin, and Best Afrobeat, the awards celebrated a diverse range of musical talents and genres.
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards showcased the best in music and visual arts, recognizing the creativity and talent of artists from around the world.
