The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, held on September 11th in New York City, saw South African sensation Tyla make a historic mark by winning the Best Afrobeats category for her hit song “Water.”

However, while accepting the Moonperson, she took the opportunity to express her pride in representing her home continent and addressed the common issue of grouping all African artists under the Afrobeats genre.

“The global impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music too,” she said. Tyla continued, “This is so special, but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats. Even though Afrobeats has run things and opened many doors, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.” 

Per usual, Taylor Swift dominated the night with multiple awards, including Video of the Year for her collaboration with Post Malone, “Fortnight”. The VMAs also featured performances from major artists like Eminem, Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Rauw Alejandro, Lenny Kravitz, and Sabrina Carpenter.

See the full list of winners below.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
Billie Eilish – “Lunch”
Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
Eminem – “Houdini”
SZA – “Snooze”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – WINNER

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ariana Grande
Bad Bunny
Eminem
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift – WINNER

SONG OF THE YEAR

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – WINNER
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”

BEST NEW ARTIST

Benson Boone
Chappell Roan – WINNER
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tyla

BEST COLLABORATION

Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones”
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – WINNER

BEST POP

Camila Cabello
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift – WINNER

BEST HIP-HOP

Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “
Eminem – “Houdini” – WINNER
GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!”
Gunna – “Fukumean”
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N”

BEST R&B

Alicia Keys – “Lifeline”
Muni Long – “Made For Me”
SZA – “Snooze” *WINNER
Tyla – “Water”
Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” –
Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – WINNER
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed”
Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)”

BEST ROCK

Bon Jovi – “Legendary”
Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Green Day – “Dilemma”
Kings of Leon – “Mustang”
Lenny Kravitz – “Human” – WINNER
U2 – “Atomic City”

BEST LATIN

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – WINNER
Bad Bunny – “Monaco”
Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenia Razon”
Myke Towers – “Lala”
Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo”
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky”
Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería”

BEST AFROBEATS

Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Burna Boy – “City Boys”
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational”
Tems – “Love Me JeJe”
Tyla – “Water” – WINNER
Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin”

BEST K-POP

Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
Lisa – “Rockstar” – WINNER
NCT Dream – “Smoothie”
NewJeans – “Super Shy”
Stray Kids – “Lalalala”
Tomorrow X Together – “Deja vu”

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Alexander Stewart – “If You Only Knew”
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From the Motion Picture “Barbie”)” – WINNER
Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me”
Raye – “Genesis”
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”

BEST DIRECTION

Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Directed by Christian Breslauer
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley
Eminem – “Houdini” – Directed by Rich Lee
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Directed by Bardia Zeinali
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Directed by Taylor Swift – WINNER

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Cinematography by Anatol Trofimov – WINNER
Charli XCX – “Von Dutch” – Cinematography by Jeff Bierman
Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Cinematography by Nikita Kuzmenko
Olivia Rodrigo – “Obsessed” – Cinematography by Marz Miller
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Cinematography by Camilo Monsalve
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto

BEST EDITING

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Editing by Nick Yumul
Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert
Eminem – “Houdini” – Editing by David Checel
Lisa – “Rockstar” – Editing by Nik Kohler
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Editing by Jai Shukla
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Editing by Chancler Haynes – WINNER

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Choreography by Margaret Qualley
Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna – WINNER
Lisa – “Rockstar” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
Tate McRae – “Greedy” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkhof

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Ariana Grande – “The Boy is Mine” – Visual Effects by Digital Axis
Eminem – “Houdini” – Visual Effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post – WINNER
Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – Visual Effects by Candice Dragonas
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Visual Effects by Mathematic
Olivia Rodrigo – “Get Him Back!” – Visual Effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Visual Effects by Parliament

BEST ART DIRECTION

Charli XCX – “360” – Art Direction by Grace Surnow
Lisa – “Rockstar” – Art Direction by Pongsan Thawatwichian
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Art Direction by Brittany Porter – WINNER
Olivia Rodrigo – “Bad Idea Right?” – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman