In a move stirring considerable debate across the music industry, MTV has officially dropped the Best Afrobeats category from its Video Music Awards nominations after a three-year run. This decision comes on the heels of South African sensation Tyla’s historic consecutive wins in the category. Tyla, whose sound is deeply rooted in Amapiano, Pop, and R&B, secured the VMA for Best Afrobeats with ‘Water’ in 2024 and ‘PUSH 2 START’ in 2025, becoming the first artist to win twice before the category’s discontinuation.
The removal has reignited discussions about the Western music industry’s tendency to broadly categorize diverse African music under a single ‘Afrobeats’ umbrella, a practice Tyla herself has previously challenged during her acceptance speeches. While the dedicated category is gone, African artists continue to make significant inroads into major global genres, with Nigerian stars Burna Boy and Tems also noted for their international breakthroughs.
Key Players Involved
- MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs): The awarding body that made the decision to remove the category.
- Tyla: South African artist whose consecutive wins sparked debate and preceded the category’s removal.
- Burna Boy & Tems: Nigerian artists highlighted for their global impact in major genres.
Event Timeline
- August 20, 2026: MTV officially announces the discontinuation of the Best Afrobeats category.
- 2024 & 2025: Tyla wins the Best Afrobeats VMA for ‘Water’ and ‘PUSH 2 START’ respectively.
