Kenyan songstress slams "rigid" definitions of African music, championing Tyla’s global success as a victory for the entire continent.

Kenyan singer Victoria Kimani has fiercely defended South African sensation Tyla following backlash over her recent Grammy win, calling out the critics who seek to box African artists into narrow sonic categories. Tyla, who won Best African Music Performance for her hit "Push 2 Start," faced criticism from some quarters who felt the award should have gone to Afrobeats giants like Davido.

The controversy surrounding Tyla’s win exposes a deep-seated tension within the African music industry: the struggle between traditional purism and global evolution. Kimani’s intervention highlights the urgent need to celebrate the diversity of African sounds rather than policing them based on language or genre expectations.

"We Are Not a Monolith"

Taking to Instagram, Kimani dismantled the argument that African music must sound a specific way to be "authentic." "Some Africans love to de-Africanize fellow Africans because they look or sound different than them," she wrote. "News flash, Africans are all over the world & we are what we are." She praised Tyla and her team for breaking barriers for artists who don't necessarily sing in traditional dialects.

Kimani drew parallels to her own career, revealing that she has faced constant criticism for not singing in Swahili or for having a sound deemed "not Kenyan enough." She argued that this rigid gatekeeping stifles creativity and ignores the continent's rich history of diverse musical expression, citing legends like Brenda Fassie who also embraced pop elements.

• The Afrobeats Shadow: The disappointment from some fans reflects the dominance of Nigerian Afrobeats, often overshadowing other vibrant scenes like South Africa's Amapiano.
• Unity in Diversity: Kimani's message is a call for unity, urging Africans to give artists their "flowers early and immediately" rather than tearing them down for their success.

A Global Stage

Tyla's win is her second consecutive Grammy, solidifying her status as a global pop star. Kimani's defense serves as a reminder that this success is a win for the continent, regardless of the genre label attached to it.

As African music continues its global ascent, voices like Kimani’s are essential in reminding the world—and Africans themselves—that the continent’s creativity knows no bounds and speaks in many tongues.