What's Going on with Billboard’s Top Afrobeats Song Category? – OkayAfrica

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Under the glowing pink and purple lights, the performer dazzles in a beaded outfit, captivating the audience with a performance reminiscent of a Billboard Top Afrobeats Song, while dancers sway rhythmically, bringing an OkayAfrica vibe to the stage.

Three of the five songsnominated for Top Afrobeats Song at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) are by Tyla“Water,”“Truth or Dare,” and“Jump” with Gunna and Skillibeng. The South African singer remains a constant fixture in Afrobeats categories, despite her fairly recent remarks about Western awards organizers lumping and conflating everything related to African music as simply Afrobeats. Tems’ gospel-informed“Me & U” is also nominated.

Perhaps what stands out most from the nominees for Top Afrobeats Song is the…