The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) recently concluded with a mixture of excitement and controversy, particularly in the Best Afrobeats Award category. One moment that has sparked significant conversation across social media platforms is the acceptance speech of South African singer Tyla, who won the prestigious award, competing against some of Africa’s most renowned stars such as Tems, Ayra Starr, Davido, and Burna Boy.
While the VMAs celebrate global music talent, Tyla’s acceptance speech stirred up emotions, especially from Nigerian On-Air Personality (OAP) Do2dtun. He was particularly vocal about his dissatisfaction with the South African singer’s comments during her acceptance speech.
The MTV VMAs have long been a celebrated platform for international artists, showcasing a wide range of musical genres. Recently, the award show has expanded to highlight African music, especially with the global rise of Afrobeats, a genre originating from Nigeria that blends traditional African music with jazz, funk, and highlife, incorporating modern pop and hip-hop elements. The rise of Afrobeats has been meteoric, with artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido gaining worldwide recognition.
This year, the Best Afrobeats category saw a competitive lineup, including several Nigerian heavyweights like Tems, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, and Davido. To everyone’s surprise, it was Tyla, a South African artist, who took home the award.
However, in her acceptance speech, Tyla expressed reservations about the category she was awarded in. While being grateful for the recognition, she voiced concerns about the generalization of African artists under the Afrobeats umbrella. According to Tyla, she identifies more with Amapiano, a South African genre that has recently gained global traction, rather than Afrobeats.
Her comments have sparked a wave of reactions, particularly from Nigerian audiences and media personalities who feel strongly about the growth and global recognition of Afrobeats.
Amapiano is a genre that originated in South Africa, blending deep house, jazz, and lounge music. It has distinct rhythms and melodies, characterized by heavy basslines and soulful piano chords. The genre has rapidly grown in popularity, both within Africa and globally, as it provides a unique sound that distinguishes it from other African genres like Afrobeats.
As Amapiano gained international acclaim, South African artists like Tyla and DJ Maphorisa have led the genre’s growth, bringing it to new audiences worldwide. Tyla’s insistence on being categorized as an Amapiano artist rather than Afrobeats was meant to underscore this distinction, but it has created an unexpected backlash.
Do2dtun, a prominent Nigerian OAP and media personality, took issue with Tyla’s remarks and voiced his displeasure on social media. Do2dtun is known for his strong opinions on the Nigerian music industry and has been a long-standing supporter of the Afrobeats genre and its international success.
Using his official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, Do2dtun criticized Tyla’s stance on the matter. His main concern was the perceived inconsistency in Tyla’s comments, given that she accepted the Afrobeats award despite claiming it did not represent her musical identity.
“Aunty @tyla aka ‘I am not Afrobeats, I am Amapiano.’ We have heard you but your song ‘Water’ is not Amapiano either,” Do2dtun wrote. “If you thought you were categorized in a wrong category, you should have given the award back or denounced the nomination.”
His message continued with further criticism, stating, “You clearly took an award that didn’t represent you or your sound from that statement you made.” This sentiment has resonated with many fans of Afrobeats, who feel that the genre should be properly represented, especially on a global stage like the VMAs.
Do2dtun’s remarks highlight a broader issue concerning the representation of African artists in international awards shows. As African music gains more global recognition, there has been increasing pressure to differentiate between various genres, such as Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afrohouse, and others. Fans and artists alike have expressed frustration over the tendency to lump all African music into the Afrobeats category, which they feel diminishes the diversity and richness of the continent’s musical output.
Afrobeats, while immensely popular, is not the only genre that defines African music. Amapiano, Afrohouse, highlife, and Afro-soul all represent different musical traditions from different parts of Africa. Tyla’s comments may have been an attempt to shed light on this issue, but the way she conveyed her message led to misunderstandings, particularly among Nigerian audiences who are deeply proud of Afrobeats’ global success.
In an era where African music is becoming increasingly mainstream, the classification of different African genres has become a topic of debate. The global success of Afrobeats, fueled by artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido, has led to a surge in interest in African music. However, the tendency to label all African music as Afrobeats can sometimes overshadow the diversity within the continent.
Tyla’s assertion that she is an Amapiano artist, not an Afrobeats artist, reflects the desire of many African musicians to maintain their cultural identity and ensure their music is accurately categorized. Amapiano’s unique sound, rooted in South African musical traditions, stands apart from Afrobeats, which originates from West Africa, particularly Nigeria.
While Tyla’s comments may have been intended to address this issue, her decision to accept an Afrobeats award despite not identifying with the genre struck a nerve with some observers, including Do2dtun. His reaction has sparked a wider conversation about how African artists are categorized in international spaces and the need for proper representation of the continent’s musical diversity.
Tyla has been one of the rising stars of South African music, with her music, especially the hit song “Water,” gaining international recognition. Her ability to blend Amapiano with elements of pop and house music has made her a standout artist on the global stage. Winning the Best Afrobeats award at the VMAs is a testament to her growing influence, even if the category did not perfectly align with her self-identified genre.
In recent years, South African artists have made significant strides in bringing Amapiano to the world, with Tyla being one of the key figures in this movement. The global appeal of Amapiano has grown, especially in dance clubs and on streaming platforms, where its infectious beats and rhythms resonate with audiences worldwide.
While the controversy between Tyla and Do2dtun may seem like a minor disagreement, it points to a larger conversation about how African music is presented and categorized on the global stage. The rise of Afrobeats has opened doors for many African artists, but it has also led to a tendency to generalize all African music as Afrobeats. This can sometimes overshadow the distinct cultural contributions of other African genres like Amapiano, highlife, or Afrohouse.
As African music continues to dominate global charts and awards, there is a growing need for greater nuance in how African genres are recognized and categorized. The dialogue sparked by Tyla’s speech and Do2dtun’s reaction is a reminder that while African music is diverse and rich, proper representation and acknowledgment of its various genres are essential for its continued growth and success.
