Last year, the young South African singer Tyla had a major global breakthrough with her hit “Water.” Earlier this year, that song won the first-ever Grammy for Best African Music Performance. One year later,

Tyla won the first Grammy for best African music performance earlier this year, but her debut album will be in the pop category at the 2025 awards, according to an exclusive report The Hollywood Reporter.

This controversy echoes previous debates about genre classification in the Grammy Awards, particularly regarding artists who blend multiple musical traditions. The decision recalls similar discussions surrounding other boundary-pushing artists and highlights the ongoing evolution of musical categorization in an increasingly globalized industry.

The unexpected category switch has left fans talking, especially considering the album’s blend of Amapiano, Afrobeats, and R&B influence — which aligns well with the Best Progressive R&B Album category.

It looks like Tyla’s self-titled debut album will no longer be vying for R&B recognition at the upcoming 67th Grammy Awards. Instead, the South African songstress is expected to compete across the pop categories,