By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
South African pop phenomenon Tyla made history at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Manchester, UK, as the first African artist to win three awards in a single night.
The 30th anniversary of the EMAs witnessed Tyla’s extraordinary achievements, which underscored her global impact and opened new avenues for African representation on the international stage.
Taking home the titles for Best Afrobeats, Best R&B, and Best African Act, Tyla stood out in a competitive field, outperforming iconic African artists like Burna Boy, Tems, and Asake.
Her success is a remarkable milestone for African music, spotlighting the continent’s growing influence in mainstream global culture.
In her acceptance speech, Tyla passionately thanked her dedicated fans, affectionately called “Tygers,” on social media, stating, “Thank you Tygers once again! Y’all are insane!”
The young artist’s groundbreaking single “Water” propelled her into the international spotlight, leading to a Grammy win for Best African Music Performance earlier in 2024, and further solidifying her role as a pioneering figure in African music.
Although Tyla celebrated monumental success at the EMAs, her name was noticeably absent from the 2025 Grammy nominations, a point of discussion among fans and industry analysts who anticipated her recognition on that platform as well.
Her achievements at the EMAs follow a string of accolades, including winning Best New Artist at the 2024 BET Awards in July.
The 2024 EMAs were dominated by female artists across categories, with Taylor Swift winning Best Artist and Best Video for her track “Fortnight” with Post Malone. Swift, who could not attend in person, expressed her regrets through a pre-recorded message, marking her own victorious night with a total of four awards.
As the EMAs celebrated its 30th anniversary at the newly opened Co-op Live in Manchester, Tyla’s record-breaking night left a lasting impression, both for the EMAs and for the continued rise of African music worldwide.
