MTV Video Music Awards: South African Artist Tyla Steals the Show, Snags Best Afrobeats Award
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards have come and gone, and the excitement is still lingering. This year’s event saw a star-studded lineup of winners, but one name that shone brighter than the rest is South African artist Tyla. Her hit song "Water" took home the coveted Best Afrobeats award, edging out Nigerian heavyweights Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy), Oyinkansola Aderibigbe (Ayra Starr), and Temilade Openiyi (Tems).
In an emotional speech, Tyla praised the global impact of "Water" and emphasized that African music can be more than just Afrobeats. "The global impact that Water had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music, too," she said. "There’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats … African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats."
Meanwhile, global pop sensation Taylor Swift dominated the night, winning seven awards including the coveted Video of the Year for her hit "Fortnight." She becomes the most decorated solo artist in MTV VMAs history.
The full list of winners can be seen below:
- VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
- ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift
- SONG OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
- BEST NEW ARTIST: Chappell Roan
- BEST COLLABORATION: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
- BEST POP: Taylor Swift
- BEST HIP-HOP: Eminem – "Houdini"
- BEST R&B: SZA – "Snooze"
- BEST ALTERNATIVE: Benson Boone – "Beautiful Things"
- BEST ROCK: Lenny Kravitz – "Human"
- BEST LATIN: Anitta – "Mil Veces"
- BEST AFROBEATS: Tyla – "Water"
- BEST K-POP: Lisa – "Rockstar"
- VIDEO FOR GOOD: Billie Eilish – "What Was I Made For (From the Motion Picture "Barbie")"
- BEST DIRECTION: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ariana Grande – "We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)"
- BEST EDITING: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
- BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Dua Lipa – "Houdini"
- BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Eminem – "Houdini"
- BEST ART DIRECTION: Megan Thee Stallion – "BOA"
The MTV Video Music Awards celebrated the best in music and creativity, with African talent shining brighter than ever. Tyla’s historic win is a testament to the growing influence of Afrobeats on the global music scene.
