OAP Dotun reacts after SA artiste Tyla beat Tems, Davido, Ayra Starr to win Afrobeats award at 2024 VMAs

Nigerian media personality Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode popularly known as Dotun has taken to social media to react after South African artise Tyla beat Tems, Davido, and Ayra Starr to win the Afrobeats category of the 2024 VMAs.

Tyla’s mega-hit song “Water” saw off stiff competition from Ayra Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song,” Chris Brown’s “Sensational,” starring Lojay and Davido, Usher’s “Ruin,” featuring Pheelz, and Tems’ “Love Me Jeje,” among others, to win the Afrobeats category.

After winning the Afrobeats category, the South African singer decided to identify with the country’s Amapiano music during her acceptance speech at the 2024 VMAs.

“I am aware that all African musicians are sometimes categorized as Afrobeats. African music is extremely diverse, even though Afrobeats has taken over and opened possibilities for us,” Tyla remarked.

READ ALSO: Again, Dammy Krane begs Davido over derogatory comments

“I’m from South Africa, and I stand for Amapiano and my culture,” Tyla continued, then gave a shout-out to fellow Afrobeats artists she was nominated with, including Rema, Tems, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Wikzid, and Davido.

While reacting to remarks made by the singer on a post on his Instagram page, Dotun criticized Tyla on the platform for her remarks during her award acceptance speech that failed to recognize the breadth of African music beyond Afrobeats.

He wrote, “Aunty @tyla aka am not Afrobeats, I am Amapiano. We have heard of you but your song “Water” isn’t amapiano either. If you thought you were categorized in the wrong category, you should have given the award back or denounced the nomination. You took an award that didn’t represent you or your sound from that statement you made.”

“Again, you see why you “ESAUS” need to rethink. You all sold our birthright for peanuts. Afrobeat is Afrobeat not Afrobeats hence the confusion…” he added.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now