South African singer Tyla has urged the West to recognize Africa’s diverse musical genres beyond Afrobeats.
MTV VMAs Speech:
Accepting Best Afrobeats Song, Tyla emphasized African music’s breadth.
“The impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world proves that African music can be pop music, too. This is so special but also bittersweet. Because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats.”
Amapiano Representation:
Tyla proudly represented South Africa’s Amapiano genre.
“African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats. I come from South Africa, I represent Amapiano. I present my culture.”
Afrobeats Artists Shoutout:
Tyla acknowledged fellow nominees Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, and Lojay.
Breaking Stereotypes:
Tyla’s call to action encourages global recognition of Africa’s rich musical heritage.
African Music Diversity:
From Amapiano to Afrobeats, Highlife to Juju, Africa’s musical landscape is vast.
Industry Impact:
Tyla’s speech sparks conversation on genre classification and cultural representation.
Next Steps:
The music industry weighs in on Tyla’s message, paving the way for greater diversity recognition.
