Nine A-list African artists have bagged nominations for this year’s BET Awards, according to the list of nominees released on Thursday.
The artists are Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Asake, Tems, Wizkid and Ayra Starr; Libianca from Cameroon; Camidoh from Ghana; and Ko and Pabi Cooper from South Africa.
Burna Boy, Ayra Starr and Ko were nominated for the “Best International Act” category alongside Aya Nakamura (France), Central Cee (UK), Ella Mai (UK), L7nnon (Brazil), Stormzy (UK), Tiakola (France) and Uncle Waffles (Swaziland).
Asake, Camidoh, Libianca and Pabi Cooper bagged nominations for the “Viewers Choice: Best New International Act” award. Other nominees in the category include Flo (UK), Maureen (France), MC Ryan SP (Brazil), Raye (UK) and Werenoi (France).
Burna Boy’s exceptional work as the video director for “Last Last” earned him a nomination in the “Video Director of the Year” category. He will be competing against A$ap Rocky, Benny Boom and Director X, among others.
Burna Boy and Tems were nominated in the “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist” and “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist” category respectively.
Burna Boy also got a nomination for the “Viewer’s Choice Award” with “Last Last”.
Future’s “Wait For U” which features Drake and Tems was nominated in the “Best Collaboration” and “Viewer’s Choice Award” categories.
Wizkid shares a nomination with Chris Brown in the “Best Collaboration” category for their collaborative song, “Call Me Every Day”.
Drake, the Canadian singer, bagged the most nominations with seven categories. His nominations include “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”, “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist”, “Best Group” with 21 Savage, “Best Collaboration” with Future and Tems (“Wait for U”), “Album of the Year” for “Her Loss” with 21 Savage, and “Viewer’s Choice Award” for “Jimmy Cooks” with 21 Savage, and his feature on “Wait For You” with Future and Tems.
Commenting on the nominations for the 2023 BET Awards, the organisers say that “This year’s nominees reflect abundant creative expression and Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports.”
The 2023 BET Awards will hold on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
