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,

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 Recording Academy has reportedly moved South African singer Tyla’s eponymous debut album into the pop Grammys category despite the project being initially submitted in the R&B category. According to Hollywood Reporters,