South African singer Tyla has found herself at the center of a heated discussion following the viral Afrobeats moment at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). During a speech celebrating the global rise of Afrobeats, some fans speculated whether the genre’s influence was diluting regional authenticity. Podcasters, however, quickly came to Tyla’s defense, dismissing rumors that she’s a plant in the music industry.
The debate started when an Afrobeats artist delivered a rousing speech at the VMAs, praising the genre’s global reach. However, some social media users began questioning Tyla’s rise to international stardom, accusing her of not being authentically South African but rather a manufactured artist riding on the coattails of Afrobeats’ global success.
In response, several podcasters many of them South Africans voiced their support for Tyla, emphasizing her deep roots in the country’s vibrant music scene. She’s not a plant. Tyla’s music is pure South African, with her own unique sound, said one podcaster. Afrobeats has paved a way, but Tyla’s journey reflects the richness of South Africa’s music culture, from amapiano to gqom.
Her speech sparked discussion as she highlighted the issue of lumping all African artists together under the Afrobeats label, despite the genre’s impact and achievements. This is just so special, but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeat[s]. It’s a thing, and even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse, it is more than just Afrobeats, she said in part.
As Tyla’s name continues to rise, the podcasters underscored the importance of recognizing the diversity within African music, cautioning against lumping artists like Tyla into a singular genre. They argued that while Afrobeats is thriving globally, artists from other African regions, like South Africa, are equally representing their heritage on the world stage.
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