South African music sensation, Tyla Laura Seethal, mononymously known as Tyla, again stole the spotlight at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (MTV VMAs), clinching the ‘Best Afrobeats’ award for her smash hit Push 2 Start.

The 23-year-old edged out Nigerian music heavyweights including Grammy winners, Wizkid featuring Brent Faiyaz (Piece of My Heart), Burna Boy featuring Travis Scott (TaTaTa), Asake and Travis Scott (Active), Rema (Baby (Is It A Crime), Tems featuring Asake (Get It Right).

Also defeated in the category was Ghanaian music star Moliy with Shake It to the Max (Fly) Remix with Jamacian stars Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea. Burna Boy, also missed out on ‘Video for Good’ category, just as Ayra Starr, lost in the ‘MTV Push Performance of the Year’ category.

Although Tyla secured the top Afrobeats honour, she narrowly missed out on a second win, with the same song, as she lost in the ‘Best Choreography’ category. The Afrobeats win is her second consecutive victory in the category, following her 2024 triumph with her hit track Water.

Celebrated by her fans, the win has reignited debates about her association with Afrobeats, as she had previously courted controversy with mixed statements about her identity as an Afrobeats artiste.

At the 2024 VMAs, she distanced herself from the genre, emphasizing her roots in Amapiano. However, in a March 2025 interview, she stated that she represents both Afrobeats and Amapiano.