On Sunday, September 2025, South African pop star Tyla won the Best Afrobeats category at the 2025 MTV VMAs. She clinched the Video Music Award for her hit single “Push 2 Start” at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The music video has 109 million views on YouTube and over 350 million streams on Spotify.
Tyla’s win at the 2025 MTV VMAs is all about identity, representation, and the wave of Afrobeats’ global rise that’s impossible to stop.
In this category, she was nominated alongside several other African artists, including Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Tems, and Rema.
This is Tyla’s second MTV Award win. Last year, she made history as the first South African to win a Moonman (MTV Award).
Beyond music, Tyla’s win at the 2025 MTV VMAs is all about identity, representation, and the global rise of Afrobeats that’s impossible to stop. It marks another milestone in the growing popularity of African music worldwide.
It was a seismic event, a cultural statement that proved that the global rise of Afrobeat is more than a single story.
The Award That Shook the Room
The MTV VMAs Best Afrobeats category was stacked. Each of the nominees carried global weight. You had Burna Boy nominated for the MTV VMAs for “TaTaTa,” Asake nominated for the MTV VMAs for his track “Active,” Rema, Tems, and, of course, the South African artist Tyla.
According to PEOPLE, Tyla was wearing a tiny 1993 beige Chanel minidress, paired with gold accessories. After she was announced the winner of the Best Afrobeats category, she went on stage to accept the award and gave a quick shoutout.
“Shoutout to all the nominees, shoutout to Africa, my team. It’s a blessing to be here and to be winning another award.”
Her music is a blend of Afrobeats, amapiano, and pop. It’s sultry yet playful, rooted in African rhythms but polished with international shine.
The Tyla Best Afrobeats award was a moment of absolute triumph, a testament to the fact that this genre is more expansive than we’ve ever given it credit for.
ALSO READ: Top Winners at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards
Tyla’s Journey to Global Stardom
Before this epic MTV VMAs 2025 win, we all knew Tyla. This tells us that this win didn’t appear from nowhere. Tyla has been on an unstoppable climb since her hit single “Water.” That song was like an anthem, and the viral dance became a TikTok smash that reached every corner of the world.
South African artist Tyla didn’t just ride a viral wave—she turned it into a global platform. Her sound is just… different.
Her music is a blend of Afrobeats, amapiano, and pop. It’s sultry yet playful, rooted in African rhythms but polished with international shine. She’s not afraid to experiment. That’s what makes her different.
Tyla resonates because she feels both fresh and familiar. As one fan wrote, “Tyla sounds like the future but still feels like home.” That balance has carried her from Johannesburg to New York, London, Lagos, and beyond.
Fans across continents see themselves in her, yet they also see someone who represents the future of African music. And now, the Tyla Best Afrobeats award stamp just solidified her as a global heavyweight.
The Competition: Burna Boy, Asake & More
Let’s be real, the competition was no joke. Burna Boy has practically been living on a global stage for years now.
His Grammy win for Twice as Tall cemented his place as a powerhouse, and his latest work continues to get critical and commercial success. He’s the undisputed king of this current Afrobeats era, the one who opened so many doors.
Beating Burna felt like toppling a giant. It’s not a slight on him or the others at all, but a sign that the landscape is evolving.
The guy has an army of fans. His career has been meteoric, near overnight, and each and every song that he releases becomes an instant hit. The level of fan loyalty is unbelievable, and his combination of Fuji and Amapiano with Afrobeats is nothing short of genius.
The fact that Tyla won the Best Afrobeats category over these two titans demonstrates that the MTV VMAs winners list for 2025 is more diverse than ever. Beating Burna felt like toppling a giant.
It’s not a slight on him or the others at all, but a sign that the landscape is evolving. It’s a generational shift. A reminder that Afrobeats isn’t just Nigerian anymore—it’s African. It’s global.
ALSO READ: Lady Gaga Leads the 2025 VMAs with 12 Nominations—Can Anyone Catch Her?
Social Media Buzz and Fan Reactions
The moment the news broke about Tyla’s MTV VMAs 2025 victory, the internet exploded. Twitter was a whole mood with so many mixed takes.
You had absolutely ecstatic people, calling her the queen of Afrobeats and celebrating the win as a victory for South Africa. Then you had the Burna Boy and Asake fans, who were a little surprised, maybe even a little salty.
The debate was real, but that’s the beauty of it. Everybody was talking about it, and it brought about a discussion that’s bigger than just one award show. The memes, too, were next level. They were funny, relatable, and demonstrated the extent of care that people have.
The social media hype about the 2025 winners of the MTV VMAs was high, but Tyla was at the focus of the entire buzz.
What’s Next for Tyla
This win is just the beginning for Tyla. Winning an award like the Tyla Best Afrobeats award among the MTV VMAs isn’t just a trophy; it’s a launchpad.
This sets her up for so much. We’re talking more collaborations, bigger tours, and, most importantly, it puts her on the path for major awards season momentum, such as the Grammy.
The Grammy talk is already underway, and with this kind of validation, it’s no longer a crazy thought. She’s no longer just a viral sensation; she’s a certified global superstar.
She’s now one of the new faces of global Afrobeats, and her next chapter is going to be something incredible to watch. She’s already teased new music, and after this win, the world is waiting to see what she does next.
What do you think Tyla’s win means for the future of African music on the global stage?
You Might Also Like:
Here’s How the Stars Turned Up for the British Fashion Awards 2024
Everything You Need to Know About Met Gala 2025
Jennifer Lopez Set to Host the 2025 American Music Awards
Fans Call Out CMA Awards for Shaboozey’s CMA Snub Despite Hot 100 Success
Nikki Glaser Named Golden Globe Awards 2025 Host, Promises an ‘Unforgettable’ Show