South African singer Tyla has solidified her place as a global Afrobeats sensation after winning two major awards at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. The event, held on December 12, celebrated the finest in global music, and Tyla’s victories marked a historic moment for South Africa on the international stage.

Tyla claimed the highly coveted Top Afrobeats Artist award, surpassing prominent Nigerian heavyweights Burna Boy, Rema, Tems, and Asake. Her chart-topping hit, Water, also earned her the Top Afrobeats Song award, cementing her dominance in the genre this year.

A Record-Breaking Year for Tyla

This Billboard recognition adds to an already remarkable year for Tyla, who has swept through global award ceremonies with ease. Earlier in 2024, she took home honors at the Grammys, EMAs, and VMAs, making her one of the most decorated Afrobeats artists of the year. Water, bolstered by a remix featuring Travis Scott that entered the global top 10, has become a defining anthem in Afrobeats, winning fans across the globe.

Tyla’s success at the Billboard Music Awards underscores the rising prominence of South African artists in the Afrobeats space, a genre traditionally dominated by West African musicians.

Here’s a list of all the winners at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards:

General Categories

• Top Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top New Artist: Chappell Roan
• Top Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
• Top Female Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Duo/Group: Fuerza Regida
• Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Hot 100 Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Hot 100 Song: Lose Control – Teddy Swims
• Top Radio Song: Lose Control – Teddy Swims
• Top Song Sales Artist: Shaboozey
• Top-Selling Song: A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey

Album Categories

• Top Billboard 200 Album: The Tortured Poems Department – Taylor Swift
• Top Rock Album: Stick Season – Noah Khan

Song Categories

• Top Billboard Global 200 Song: Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
• Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song: Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
• Top Country Song: A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
• Top R’n’B Song: MILLION DOLLAR BABY – Tommy Richman
• Top Hard Rock Song: All My Life – Falling In Reverse feat. Jelly Roll
• Top Dance/Electronic Song: Houdini – Dua Lipa

Artist Categories by Genre

• Top Hot 100 Songwriter: Taylor Swift
• Top Hot 100 Producer: Jack Antonoff
• Top Streaming Songs Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Radio Songs Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Billboard Global 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist: Taylor Swift
• Top R’n’B Male Artist: Tommy Richman
• Top R’n’B Female Artist: SZA
• Top R’n’B Touring Artist: Bruno Mars
• Top Rap Artist: Drake
• Top Rap Album: For All the Dogs – Drake
• Top Rap Male Artist: Drake
• Top Rap Female Artist: Doja Cat
• Top Rap Touring Artist: Travis Scott
• Top Rock Duo/Group: Linkin Park
• Top Hard Rock Artist: Linkin Park
• Top Latin Duo/Group: Fuerza Regida
• Top K-Pop Touring Artist: Seventeen
• Top Global K-Pop Artist: Stray Kids
• Top Country Artist: Morgan Wallen
• Top Country Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
• Top Country Female Artist: Beyoncé

Afrobeats Categories

• Top Afrobeats Artist: Tyla
• Top Afrobeats Song: Water – Tyla

Special Categories

• Top Collaboration: I Had Some Help – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
• Top Rock Touring Artist: Coldplay

Taylor Swift emerged as the most awarded artist, breaking the all-time record with 10 wins in 2024, pushing her career total to 49 Billboard Music Awards. Tyla made history as the standout winner in the Afrobeats categories.