It was a historic night at the 51st American Music Awards (AMAs) in Las Vegas as South African pop star Tyla was crowned Favourite Afrobeats Artist, beating out a lineup of Nigerian powerhouses in a category that’s quickly becoming one of the most competitive in global music.

Held at the iconic Fontainebleau venue on Monday night, the awards ceremony saw Tyla triumph over heavyweights like Asake, Tems, Wizkid, and Rema—making her the first South African artist, and notably, the first woman, to win in the Afrobeats category since it was introduced in 2022.

Wizkid, the category’s inaugural winner, was again among the nominees this year. But it was Tyla’s globally viral hit “Water” and her growing influence on international charts that helped seal the deal.

“This means the world to me,” she said, holding her AMA trophy with emotion during her acceptance speech. “To be recognized on this stage, alongside legends I’ve looked up to for years—it’s surreal. Thank you to everyone who believed in me.”

While her win marks a proud moment for South African music and women in African pop, it’s also stirred up a familiar conversation: What exactly is Afrobeats—and who gets to wear the label?

This isn’t the first time Tyla has dominated in a category labeled “Afrobeats.” Just months earlier at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), she walked away with the Best Afrobeats Music Video for Water, edging out artists more traditionally associated with the genre like Burna Boy, Tems, and Ayra Starr.

Following that win, Tyla spoke candidly about the ongoing confusion around how African music is classified on the global stage. “This is so special but also bittersweet,” she said, “because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats, even when our sounds are different.”

And she’s not wrong. Tyla’s music leans more towards Amapiano, Pop, and R&B-infused rhythms than the West African percussive grooves typically associated with Afrobeats. But as the global music industry continues to embrace African sounds, the lines have blurred—sometimes too much for comfort.

Tyla’s AMAs win is a testament to the global appetite for African artistry, no matter the genre. It also reflects a broader industry challenge: the desire to recognize African excellence while also respecting the distinct musical cultures that exist across the continent.

Still, in a space that has long been dominated by male Nigerian stars, Tyla’s victory sends a strong message about inclusion, diversity, and the growing influence of Southern Africa in global music conversations.

For Tyla, the moment was one of joy, recognition, and reflection. For the industry, it was another reminder: Africa is not a monolith, and neither is its music.

And for fans? It was just another reason to keep dancing to Water—on repeat.