Tyla wins Top Afrobeats Artist, Song at 2024 Billboard Music Awards

Tyla won double at Thursday night’s broadcast of the 2024 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), accepting accolades for Top Afrobeats Artist and Top Afrobeats Song.

The Joburg-born singing megastar had been nominated for eight BBMAs, including Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Female, Top R&B Album, Top Afrobeats Artist, Top R&B Song (Water) and Top Afrobeats Song for Water, Truth or Dare and Jump featuring Gunna and Skillibeng.

“I must give a whole speech,” said the star.

“Yo, guys. I do not even know this is all happening. Yo, guys. You’re bad, also you’re um, thank you. Thank you, everybody here. You guys killed it. You guys gave me energy. Thank you guys so much.

“Thank you to Billboard. Thank you to the label, my label, Epic Records. Thank you, Sylvia. Thank you my Tygas. Thank you my family. Thank you God. Thank you everyone. Thank you my friends and my loved ones. Thank you Africa.”

Hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau, the BBMAs were pre-recorded in different locations around the world and broadcast on Fox, Amazon Fire and Billboard.com, and streamed post-event on Paramount+.

Performing from a pub in London, England, the 22 year-old’s head-turning “office siren” outfit combined a white blouse buttoned at the top, but was wide open to reveal a black leather bralette and zebra miniskirt with a large diamanté belt buckle.

The singer and style icon paired the look with metallic hoop earrings, smart black rectangular eye glasses, ripped stockings and chain-adorned chunky boots, and her hair was in a playful up-do with textured loose waves.

During her performance choreographed by Tanisha Scott, Tyla pushed open the bathroom door to begin her hit song Push 2 Start followed by dancers emerging from each toilet stall.

Tyla was joined by Afrobeat musician Optimist Music ZA for Shake Ah with a pop-up amapiano party featuring a DJ and a packed dance floor in the club. Optimist Music ZA rapped his second verse and danced on the bar with Tyla in a thrilling dance sequence with raining confetti and a surprise appearance by British hip-hop duo Pete & Bas.

Water was released on July 28 2023 and went viral on TikTok the next month. It was the first solo song by a South African musician to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 in more than 55 years. Water has remained at No 1 for more than a year (53 weeks) at the top the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs charts, extending its record as the longest-running solo and female-led No 1 song in Billboard’s history.

When asked backstage about what charting on Billboard has done for her career, Tyla said: “It’s very exciting. When I first got on the Billboard Charts, I did not expect it at all. I was just happy my song was doing well, and then I saw the announcement and it literally sunk in at that moment. It has been really cool to see my name there, and my songs there and see how far my music is spreading.”