South African singer Tyla emerged as the winner of the Favourite Afrobeats Artist category at the 51st edition of the American Music Awards (AMAs), held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Monday night.
Tyla beat a strong field of Nigerian heavyweights including Asake, Tems, Wizkid, and Rema to claim the award, becoming the first South African and the first woman to win in the category since its introduction in 2022.
Nigerian star Wizkid, the inaugural winner, was among the nominees this year.
Her breakout single Water, which went viral globally, and her growing international presence were widely credited for her win.
“This means the world to me,” Tyla said during her acceptance speech. “To be recognized on this stage, alongside legends I admire, is a dream come true. Thank you to everyone who believed in me.”
The win, however, has reignited ongoing conversations around genre classification in global music awards.
This is not the first time Tyla has outshone Nigerian Afrobeats stars in a category bearing the genre’s name.
t the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), she won Best Afrobeats Music video for Water, ahead of fellow African artists including Burna Boy, Tems, and Ayra Starr.
Following that win while expressing gratitude, Tyla addressed the confusion around her musical identity, she clarified that she does not consider herself an Afrobeats artist.
“This is so special but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group African artists under Afrobeats,” she said.
“Afrobeats has opened many doors for us, but African music is so diverse it’s more than just Afrobeats. I represent Amapiano and my culture.”
Her win drew backlash from some people, who questioned why she would accept awards in afrobeats categories if she does not identify with the genre.
They argued that such recognition should be reserved for artists who contribute directly to the sound and evolution of Afrobeats.
Billie Eilish led the night winning all seven categories where she was nominated, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year Hit Me Hard and Soft, Favourite Touring Artist, Favourite Female Pop Artist and Favourite Pop Album Hit Me Hard and Soft. She also won with Birds of a Feather for Song of the Year and Favourite Pop Song.
Beyoncé picked up two awards, including Favourite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for Cowboy Carter.
Post Malone secured his first win in the country category, winning Favourite Male Country Artist, while Eminem won his first AMAs in 15 years for Favourite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Favourite Hip-Hop Album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce).
Jennifer Lopez returned to host the AMAs for the first time in a decade, opening the evening with a dance medley of 23 of the biggest hits from the past year.
Rod Stewart was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by five of his children and closed the show with his classic Forever Young.
“I am absolutely flabbergasted, I didn’t know they were here, my children,” he said during his acceptance speech.
“When I started singing in the early 60s, well before all of you lot were here, the reason I got into it was because I had this burning ambition to sing. That’s all I wanted to do. I didn’t want to be rich or famous, and so many years later, I’m here.”
Below are the full list of winners
Artist of the Year
Billie Eilish
New Artist of the Year
Gracie Abrams
Album of the Year
Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Song of the Year
Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Collaboration of the Year
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
Social Song of the Year
Doechii – Anxiety
Favorite Touring Artist
Billie Eilish
Favorite Music Video
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
Favorite Male Pop Artist
Bruno Mars
Favorite Female Pop Artist
Billie Eilish
Favorite Pop Album
Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Favorite Pop Song
Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Favorite Rock Artist
Twenty One Pilots
Favorite Rock Album
Twenty One Pilots – Clancy
Favorite Rock Song
Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
Eminem
Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist
Megan Thee Stallion
Favorite Hip-Hop Album
Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)
Favorite Hip-Hop Song
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Favorite Male Country Artist
Post Malone
Favorite Female Country Artist
Beyoncé
Favorite Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Favorite Country Album
Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER
Favorite Country Song
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Favorite Male R&B Artist
The Weeknd
Favorite Female R&B Artist
SZA
Favorite R&B Album
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Favorite R&B Song
SZA – Saturn
Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga
Favorite Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Favorite Female Latin Artist
Becky G
Favorite Latin Duo/Group
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
Favorite Latin Album
Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Favorite Latin Song
Shakira – Soltera
Favorite Soundtrack
Arcane League of Legends: Season 2
Favorite K-Pop Artist
RM
Favorite Afrobeats Artist
Tyla
