Mixed reactions as South African Tyla takes home best Afrobeats singer at MTVBase awards

• She named the best afrobeat artist of 2024 for her track “Water” over Burna Boy’s “City Boy,” Ayra Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song,” Tems’ “Love Me Jeje,” and the collaboration between Davido and Lojay on Chris Brown’s “Sensational.”

The Nigerian social media scene has been lively in the past few hours following MTV Base’s announcement of Tyla as the Best Afrobeats artist for 2024.

Tyla’s track “Water” was chosen over Burna Boy’s “City Boy,” Ayra Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song,” Tems’ “Love Me Jeje,” and the collaboration between Davido and Lojay on Chris Brown’s “Sensational.”

This isn’t the first time Tyla has taken an award from a Nigerian artist. Earlier, GistLover reported that Tyla won the Best African Music Performance of 2024 at the Grammys, beating out Davido, Asake, Olamide, and Burna Boy.

After receiving her award for Best Afrobeats Artist of 2024, Tyla took a moment to inform the event organizers that she is actually a South African singer.

She explained that her music is more in the Amapiano style, which is a South African genre, rather than Afrobeats.

Tyla also gave a big shoutout to the Nigerian artists she surpassed to win, including Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Tems, Lojay, and Pheelz.

Watch video below:

Netizens Reactions…

@djwowyana: “I’m glad she acknowledged that they confused her music for Afrobeat. That was honorable and respectful of her.”

@msjafta: “She fought for everyone in that acceptance speech! She always takes everybody with her. She also did that at the BEt awards aswell. But still it doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve it.”

@richyyflexy: “They robbed us again 😩🇳🇬 but we’re still the best lol.”

@davidmuriithi: “Respect to her for acknowledgement of the mistake in category.”

@donpormore: “Very confident in her submission and approach.. well done sweet girl.”

@desmond__jesse21: “She didn’t mention Davido.”

@baba_roscoe: “Shout out to Tyla but that shiiit ain’t Afrobeat. There is nothing Afrobeat about her music.”

@mickiv3lli: “Afrobeat how? This people just don’t rate us.”

@avalonokpe: “Well deserved, welldone.”

@apiwebubu: “Amazing speech!-well done for that.”