South African sensation Tyla clinched the Best Afrobeats award at the 2025 AMAs, edging out Nigerian stars Asake, Tems, Wizkid, and Rema in a fiercely competitive category.
Her win marked a major milestone in her rising global profile. Held in Las Vegas, the star-studded ceremony also saw Billie Eilish dominate with six major awards, including Artist of the Year.
South African music star Tyla emerged as the winner of the Best Afrobeats category at the 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs), outshining some of Nigeria’s biggest names; Asake, Tems, Wizkid, and Rema to take home the coveted prize.
Tyla’s victory is a standout achievement, especially given the heavyweight contenders she was up against. Asake earned a spot on the nominees list thanks to his third studio project, Lungu Boy. Tems followed closely behind with her critically acclaimed debut, Born In The Wild, while Rema’s nomination came on the heels of his well-received sophomore album, HEIS. In a category packed with talent, Tyla rose above the rest, reinforcing her growing influence in the global Afrobeats movement.
The awards ceremony took place on May 27, 2025, at the luxurious Fontainebleau Las Vegas, with Jennifer Lopez returning as host for the first time since 2015. Lopez also lit up the stage with a performance, joining an all-star lineup that included Janet Jackson, Benson Boone, Gwen Stefani, and Rod Stewart.
The night, however, belonged to Billie Eilish, who swept the event with six awards, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for her hit Birds of a Feather.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the night’s top winners:
Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish
New Artist of the Year: Gracie Abrams
Song of the Year: Birds of a Feather – Billie Eilish
Favorite R&B Album: Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
Favorite Latin Album: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
Favorite Hip-Hop Album: The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) – Eminem
Favorite Music Video: Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Favorite Pop Album: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish
Favorite Country Album: Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER
