South African singer Tyla won the Favourite Afrobeats Artist award at the 51st American Music Awards (AMAs), held recently at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Despite the category’s title, Tyla has consistently emphasised that she identifies as an Amapiano artist, not Afrobeats, spotlighting the diversity of African music.
Tyla triumphed over Nigerian Afrobeats stars Asake, Tems, Wizkid, and Rema, becoming the first South African and first woman to win the category since its debut in 2022. This victory echoes her earlier success at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), where she clinched Best Afrobeats Music Video for her hit “Water,” outshining Burna Boy, Tems, and Ayra Starr.
Following her VMA win, Tyla addressed the recurring misclassification of her music. “This is so special but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group African artists under Afrobeats,” she said. “Afrobeats has opened many doors for us, but African music is so diverse—it’s more than just Afrobeats. I represent Amapiano and my culture.”
Her statement underscores her commitment to highlighting Amapiano, a South African genre blending house music and local rhythms, distinct from the Nigerian-rooted Afrobeats sound.
Her AMAs win further amplifies this narrative, showcasing the global rise of African music beyond a single label. The night also saw Billie Eilish dominate with seven wins, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’. Beyoncé secured Favourite Female Country Artist and Favourite Country Album for ‘Cowboy Carter’, while Post Malone and Eminem won in country and hip-hop categories, respectively.
Hosted by Jennifer Lopez, who opened with a dance medley of 23 hits, the event concluded with Rod Stewart receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award and performing “Forever Young.” Tyla’s victory, however, stood out as a moment of cultural clarification amid celebration.
