The BET Awards took place last night at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network, the event honours black entertainers and other minorities in film, television and philanthropy from across the globe.
This year, the African continent was strongly represented by nine acts who were nominated in six different music categories.
Nigerian star Burna Boy led the pack with four nominations including Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Best International Act, Viewers' Choice, and Video Director of the Year. He managed to nab the award for Best International Act, beating out the likes of fellow Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, as well as South African stars Uncle Waffles and rapper K.O. Burna Boy previously won the Best International Act Award in 2019, 2020, amd 2021.
Female songstress Tems, also from Nigeria, was nominated for the prestigious Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, up against heavyweights such Beyonce, Lizzo, H.E.R, and SZA, who ultimately took home with the award.
However, Tems didn’t walk away empty handed. Her track ‘Wait for You’ with Drake and Future won the BET Award for Best Collaboration.
Singer Libianca Fonji, known for her hit single, ‘People’, and who hails from Cameroon, won the award for Best New International Act, beating out Nigerian street-pop artist Asake, Ghanaian Afropop performer Raphael Kofi Attachie, known as Camidoh, and dancer and producer Pabi Cooper from South Africa.
