Tyla Shines at 2024 MTV EMAs, While Nigerian Artists Miss Out
South African artist Tyla celebrates her triple win at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards, including Best Afrobeats Artist, Best African Act, and Best R&B Artist. Instagram/@tyla
South African singer Tyla claimed three major awards at the 30th MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester, United Kingdom. She won Best Afrobeats Artist, beating Nigerian artists Asake, Tems, Rema, Burna Boy, and Ayra Starr. Tyla also took home the Best African Act award, surpassing Ayra Starr, Asake, DBN Gogo, TitoM & Yuppe, and Diamond Platnumz. Her third award of the night was for Best R&B Artist, ahead of Kehlani, SZA, Tinashe, Usher, and Victoria Monét.
Tyla closed the night with an acoustic performance of her song "Water."
Nigerian artist Ayra Starr, nominated in four categories—Best African Act, Best New Artist, Best Afrobeats Artist, and Best Push—did not win in any. Earlier in the year, Tyla won the Grammy’s first Best African Music Performance category and also secured Best Afrobeats Artist at the 2024 MTV Music Video Awards.