Entertainment
Tyla Beats Out Top Nigerian Stars, Makes History With Three MTV EMA Victories
South African artist Tyla captivated the audience at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), held in Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, by winning a record-breaking three awards in a single night.
Tyla, who has been a rising sensation on the global music scene, took home the Best Afrobeats, Best R&B, and Best African Act awards, becoming the first African artist to achieve such a milestone at the EMAs.
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Her wins were especially notable given the strong competition from renowned African and international artists, including Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Rema, and Tems.
The prestigious MTV EMAs, now in their 30th year, returned to the United Kingdom for a grand celebration of music, featuring nominations from top global icons.
Tyla’s achievements underscore her growing influence as an international artist and mark a significant moment for African representation in global music.
Reacting to her groundbreaking victory, Tyla thanked her fanbase, affectionately called the “Tygers,” saying, “Thank you Tygers once again! Y’all are insane!” Her win comes on the heels of a landmark year, which also saw her being crowned Best New Artist at the BET Awards in July.
Her breakout hit, “Water,” continues to resonate worldwide, further propelling her career and establishing her as a force in Afrobeats and global pop music.
Though Tyla was notably absent from the recently announced 2025 Grammy nominations, her unprecedented success at the MTV EMAs confirms her role as one of Africa’s most promising talents and an emblem of the continent’s burgeoning music influence.
Here’s the full list of winners from the 2024 MTV EMAs:
BEST SONG
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Beyoncé – “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!”
BEST VIDEO
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Charli XCX – “360”
Eminem – “Houdini”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
LISA ft. Rosalía – “NEW WOMAN”
BEST ARTIST
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Post Malone
RAYE
Sabrina Carpenter
BEST COLLABORATION
WINNER: LISA ft. Rosalía – “NEW WOMAN”
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile”
Peso Pluma, Anitta – “BELLAKEO”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
BEST NEW
WINNER: Benson Boone
Ayra Starr
Chappell Roan
LE SSERAFIM
Teddy Swims
The Last Dinner Party
Tyla
BEST POP
WINNER: Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
BEST AFROBEATS
WINNER: Tyla
Asake
Ayra Starr
Burna Boy
Rema
Tems
BEST ROCK
WINNER: Liam Gallagher
Bon Jovi
Coldplay
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Lenny Kravitz
The Killers
BEST LATIN
WINNER: Peso Pluma
Anitta
Bad Bunny
KAROL G
Rauw Alejandro
Shakira
BEST K-POP
WINNER: Jimin
Jung Kook
LE SSERAFIM
LISA
NewJeans
Stray Kids
BEST ALTERNATIVE
WINNER: Imagine Dragons
Fontaines D.C.
Hozier
Lana Del Rey
Twenty One Pilots
YUNGBLUD
BEST ELECTRONIC
WINNER: Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Disclosure
DJ Snake
Fred Again..
Swedish House Mafia
BEST HIP-HOP
WINNER: Eminem
Central Cee
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Travis Scott
BEST R&B
WINNER: Tyla
Kehlani
SZA
Tinashe
Usher
Victoria Monét
BEST LIVE
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Adele
Coldplay
Doja Cat
RAYE
Travis Scott
BEST PUSH
WINNER: LE SSERAFIM
Ayra Starr
Chappell Roan
Coco Jones
Flyana Boss
Jessie Murph
Laufey
Mark Ambor
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
The Warning
Victoria Monét
BIGGEST FANS
WINNER: LISA
Anitta
Ariana Grande
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Charli XCX
Katy Perry
Nicki Minaj
Sabrina Carpenter
Shawn Mendes
Taylor Swift
MTV EMA 2024 BEST REGIONAL ACT NOMINEES:
BEST AFRICAN ACT
WINNER: Tyla
Asake
Ayra Starr
DBN Gogo
Diamond Platnumz
TitoM & Yuppe
BEST ASIA ACT
BINI
ILLIT
Mahalini
MASDO
Sakurazaka46
BEST AUSTRALIAN ACT
Confidence Man
CYRIL
Kylie Minogue
Sia
The Kid LAROI
Troye Sivan
BEST AUSTRIAN ACT
Bilderbuch
Christina Stürmer
Esther Graf
Money Boy
RAF Camora
Wanda
BEST BRAZILIAN ACT
Jão
Luisa Sonza
Matuê
Pabllo Vittar
Pedro Sampaio
BEST CANADIAN ACT
AR Paisley
Kaytranada
Nelly Furtado
Shawn Mendes
Tate McRae
BEST CARIBBEAN ACT
Eladio Carrión
Luar La L
Myke Towers
YovngChimi
Young Miko
BEST DUTCH ACT
Claude
Jonna Fraser
Mr. Belt & Wezol
Roxy Dekker
Son Mieux
BEST FRENCH ACT
Aya Nakamura
Dadju & Tayc
GIMS
Pierre Garnier
Slimane
Vitaa
BEST GERMAN ACT
AYLIVA
K.I.Z
Luciano
Pashanim
Shirin David
BEST INDIA ACT
Armaan Malik
Chirag Todi
Dee MC & EPR
Hanumankind
Kamakshi Khanna
Mali
BEST ITALIAN ACT
Angelina Mango
Annalisa
Ghali
Mahmood
The Kolors
BEST ISRAELI ACT
Agam Buhbut
Anna Zak
Noa Kirel
Shahar Saul
Shahar Tavoch
BEST LAT AM CENTRAL ACT
Beele
Blessd
Kapo
Manuel Turizo
Sofia Castro
BEST LAT AM NORTH ACT
Danna
El Malilla
Gabito Ballesteros
Natanael Cano
YeriMua
BEST LAT AM SOUTH ACT
Dillom
Emilia
Luck Ra
Maria Becerra
Trueno
BEST NORDIC ACT
Alesso
girl in red
Laufey
Swedish House Mafia
Zara Larsson
BEST POLISH ACT
Daria Zawiałow
Kacperczyk
Kwiat Jabłoni
Pro8l3m
Zalewski
BEST PORTUGUESE ACT
Bárbara Bandeira
Bárbara Tinoco
Dillaz
Ivandro
Slow J
BEST SPANISH ACT
Ana Mena
Belén Aguilera
Dani Fernández
Lola Indigo
Mikel Izal
BEST SWISS ACT
Benjamin Amaru
Faber
Nemo
Priya Ragu
Stress
BEST UK & IRELAND ACT
WINNER: RAYE
Central Cee
Charli XCX
Chase & Status
Dua Lipa
Hozier
BEST US ACT
Ariana Grande
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Entertainment
‘I’ll Control Him’ — Ayra Starr Reveals What Happens If She’s Richer Than Her Partner
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has sparked a debate over money and power in relationships after revealing how she would behave if she were financially richer than her male partner.
The “Bloody Samaritan” hitmaker shared her views on financial disparity in relationships while speaking on an episode of the Wahala podcast.
SEE ALSO: Ayra Starr Breaks Records, Hits One Billion Views On YouTube
Ayra Starr said that if she dates a man who is not as wealthy as she is, she would naturally have control over him because of her financial advantage.
According to the singer, however, being richer than her partner would not mean he would be exempted from providing for her.
“If I date a man who I am richer than, I will control him. But even if I am richer, he will still be providing, and I won’t let him know I have a lot of money,” she said.
Ayra Starr also disclosed that she would deliberately keep the extent of her wealth away from such a partner, meaning he would not necessarily know that she has substantial financial resources.
Her comments have since generated mixed reactions from members of the public.
While some people agreed with the singer’s position, arguing that “it is a man’s job to provide” regardless of how much his female partner earns, others criticised her stance.
Critics particularly questioned her decision to hide her financial status from a future partner, arguing that openness about finances is an important part of a relationship.
The singer’s comments have consequently reignited conversations about financial power, control, transparency and traditional gender expectations in relationships.
The debate also comes amid growing conversations about changing gender roles, as more women attain financial independence and, in some cases, earn significantly more than their male partners.
Ayra Starr, who has established herself as one of Nigeria’s prominent Afrobeats artistes, continues to attract attention both for her music and her outspoken comments on issues surrounding relationships and society.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele, Ex-Husband JJC Skillz Reunite in Paris, Spark Reactions
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, and her former husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, have sparked reactions online after they were spotted together in Paris, France, during a family holiday.
The former couple were seen spending time with their twin sons while exploring different parts of the French capital.
In a video shared by JJC Skillz on Snapchat on Wednesday, Akindele and her ex-husband were seen with their children at what appeared to be a shopping centre in Paris.
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The video was captioned, “Family time.”
In another clip, JJC Skillz asked Akindele, “Mama Ibeji, are we playing games?”
She replied, “Yess ooo.”
The former couple were also reportedly spotted at the Eiffel Tower, according to videos shared online.
Akindele also shared a video showing herself, JJC Skillz and their children at a PlayStation section of what appeared to be a mall in Paris.
The family outing comes after Akindele and her children travelled to the United Kingdom for a holiday following the completion of her latest cinema project, The Four.
Akindele and JJC Skillz got married in London in 2016 and welcomed twin boys in 2018.
However, in June 2022, JJC Skillz announced their separation in an Instagram post, citing
“irreconcilable differences.”
Despite their separation, the former couple have continued to maintain a relationship centred around their children.
Their latest reunion in Paris has attracted attention online, with the videos showing the pair enjoying family moments with their children.
The Paris outing is also not the first time Akindele and JJC Skillz have been seen together publicly since their separation.
In 2023, the former couple were spotted together at the Lagos premiere of their movie, She Must Be Obeyed. They were seen dancing and embracing as they joined other celebrities at the event.
JJC Skillz also directed the movie.
Entertainment
Billionaire Okoya’s Son Quits Music, Reveals Why He’s Leaving
Nigerian Afrobeats singer Raheem Okoya, popularly known as Siraheem, has announced his decision to stop releasing new music, citing the difficulty of balancing his music career with other commitments.
Siraheem, the son of billionaire industrialist Rasaq Okoya, made the announcement in a statement shared on his official Instagram page on Wednesday.
The singer said his journey into music began as a hobby with friends before gradually developing into a serious career.
SEE MORE: ‘Gospel Music Has Power To Transform Nigeria’ – Pastor Declares
“My career began simply, music was a hobby I made with my boys as a means of bonding and connection before it was anything else,” he said.
According to Siraheem, sustaining his music career alongside his other responsibilities had become increasingly difficult over the past year.
“Over the past year, holding that alongside my other commitments has grown harder. I’ve always believed in giving everything my best and I no longer feel I can give this craft the effort, patience, and dedication it truly deserves,” he said.
Explaining his decision, the singer said he owed his fans and colleagues a professional conclusion to his current chapter.
“So I owe it to my true fans, and to my colleagues in this industry a professional exit, I have decided to stop putting out new music,” he stated.
However, Siraheem stressed that his departure from music would not end his creative pursuits. He revealed plans to diversify into other fields and pursue new ventures.
“To my fans the ‘Siraheem music’ era may be closing, but the creative in me is still hungry for new challenges, still reaching. The future stays positive. I have plans to diversify my creative palette into other fields and I will be back with new ventures,” he said.
The singer also left the door open for a possible return to music, particularly with songs he has already recorded.
Siraheem said music remains therapeutic to him and disclosed that he had spent the past year working on what he considered his best material yet.
“Music still remains therapeutic for me. With time, maybe the album finds its way into the world somehow after all,” he said.
Siraheem began releasing music professionally around 2022 and gained attention with songs including Bad Bitch Syndrome, Kowope, SOWETO and TRU$T FUND.
His debut project, By The Order Of The City, an eight-track project, was released on May 1, 2026.
Despite announcing his exit, Siraheem did not completely rule out a comeback.
“Who knows what the future still holds. Never say never,” he said.
He also thanked his fans and collaborators, Mr Fantasy and Mr Miyagi, for supporting him during what he described as an unforgettable year.





