South African sensation Tyla made history at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Manchester, UK, on November 10, 2024, by becoming the first African artist to clinch three awards in a single night.
Manchester, UK– Celebrating the EMAs’ 30th anniversary, the star-studded event at Co-op Live saw Tyla’s remarkable victories in Best Afrobeats, Best R&B, and Best African Act.
Tyla’s wins were hard-earned, beating out a lineup of internationally acclaimed artists. For the Best Afrobeats award, she triumphed over powerhouse Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Rema, Ayra Starr, Asake, and Tems.
Her Best R&B win put her alongside global heavyweights such as SZA, Usher, Kehlani, Tinashe, and Victoria Monét. And in the Best African Act category, she emerged victorious over other notable African stars, including DBN Gogo and Diamond Platnumz. In a heartfelt acceptance speech after receiving the Best Afrobeats award, Tyla expressed her appreciation, saying:
“I can’t believe this. All the nominees have taken Afrobeats so far, and I’m honored to be part of this and win this. Thank you to my Tigers for voting for me, God, and Afrobeats for opening doors for African music.”
Earlier in her career, Tyla stirred some debate at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) when she identified herself primarily with the Amapiano genre rather than Afrobeats, sparking mixed reactions. While acknowledging Afrobeats’ role in opening doors for African artists, She explained her music represented a broader cultural soundscape. Some Nigerian fans took issue with her stance, feeling she was distancing herself from a genre instrumental to her rise. At the EMAs, however, she adopted an inclusive approach, honoring Afrobeats for its contributions to her success.
The 2024 MTV EMAs, hosted by British pop star Rita Ora, brought together music luminaries from various genres. Highlights included Taylor Swift’s multiple wins, including Best Artist and Best Video for her collaboration with Post Malone on “Fortnight,” and Sabrina Carpenter taking home Best Song for her hit “Espresso.” Eminem won Best Hip-Hop, and Liam Gallagher was named Best Rock. With live performances from stars like Raye and Shawn Mendes, the evening was a celebration of music’s diversity and global reach
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