At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held in Elmont, New York, South African artist Tyla won the Best Afrobeats category with her song 'Water,' defeating Nigerian nominees Burna Boy and Ayra Starr. Tyla expressed her gratitude, emphasizing that her win showcased the global appeal of African music beyond the Afrobeats genre. The awards were dominated by Taylor Swift, who took home seven trophies, including Video of the Year for her collaboration with Post Malone on 'Fortnight.' Eminem opened the event with a performance featuring Jelly Roll, and the ceremony also featured performances by various artists. The event was initially scheduled for September 10 but was postponed due to the U.S. presidential debate. Despite not winning, the nominations for Burna Boy and Ayra Starr highlight the growing influence of African artists in the global music scene.