2024 MTV Base Awards: Tyla’s win over Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, Ayra Starr, others triggers disbelief

• Tyla has burst onto the Nigerian social media scene with a bang, claiming her spot in the spotlight after a stunning win at the MTV Base Awards.
• She snagged the coveted title of Best Afrobeats Artist of 2024, beating out music titans like Burna Boy, Tems, Ayra Starr, Davido, others
• But the backlash has been swift and fierce! Critics are lighting up social media, calling out the MTV Base Awards organizers for their blatant ignorance and utter disregard for the essence of Afrobeats.

The Nigerian social media space has erupted in a frenzy over the past few hours following MTV Base’s controversial decision to crown Tyla as the Best Afrobeats Artist of 2024.

Tyla’s infectious hit “Water” edged out powerhouse tracks like Burna Boy’s “City Boy,” Ayra Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song,” Tems’ “Love Me Jeje,” and the collaboration between Davido and Lojay on Chris Brown’s “Sensational.”

The audacity of this selection has left many fans and industry insiders questioning the credibility of the awards.

In a captivating moment that has since gone viral, Tyla took to the stage to accept her award and delivered a surprising twist: she corrected the show’s organizers, clarifying that she is a South African artist. She emphasized her identity as an Amapiano singer—a distinctly South African sound that has been gaining global traction.

In her acceptance speech, she also made sure to give a massive shoutout to the Nigerian artists she bested, including Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Tems, Lojay, and Pheelz, acknowledging their incredible contributions to the music scene.

WATCH HER GIVE HER SPEECH BELOW

Despite her gracious remarks, the disbelief among Nigerians remains palpable. Many are calling out MTV Base for their apparent ignorance and misrepresentation of the Afrobeats genre, while others praised Tyla for her honest and respectful speech.

SEE THE DIVERSE REACTIONS TRAILING THE CLIP BELOW

This isn’t the first time Tyla has snagged an award from a Nigerian artist. Earlier this year, she made headlines when she triumphed over heavyweights like Davido, Asake, Olamide, and Burna Boy to clinch the Best African Music Performance of 2024 at the Grammys.