I represent Amapiano not Afrobeats – Singer Tyla

South African singer Tyla has criticized the Western tendency to label all African music as afrobeats.

While accepting her award for Best Afrobeats Song at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Tyla expressed her views, stating that while Afrobeats has helped popularize African music, it is inaccurate to classify all music from the continent as such.

She emphasized that she hails from South Africa and proudly represents the Amapiano genre.

She said: “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.

“Even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.

“I come from South Africa, I represent Amapiano. I present my culture. And I just want to shout out all the Afrobeats artists in this category with me. Shout out to all the Afrobeats artistes Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema and Lojay.”