BET Africa, part of Viacom’s African multimedia entertainment portfolio, today announced the nominations for the 2016 "BET Awards" taking place at Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, on Sunday 26 June, and premiering across Africa on BET (DStv channel 129) on Tuesday 28 June at 7PM.
Recognising the growing international appeal of African contemporary artists, eight African artists have been honoured in the BET Awards. Leading the charge for South African music are hip hop giants AKA and Cassper Nyovest and dance/house legend Black Coffee, while Nigeria is represented by Wizkid (winner of the award in 2012) and Afro-pop diva, Yemi Alade. East African sensation Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Ghana’s dancehall/R&B queen Mzvee and Cote D’Ivoire’s Coupé Decalé star Serge Beynaud round out the nominees for Africa.
Drake leads the list of entertainers nominated at this year’s awards with an impressive nine nominations including “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”, “Video of Year”, and “Best Collaboration” for his hit “Where Ya At” with fellow hip hop artist Future. Beyoncé and Rihanna follow with five nods each with Beyoncé scoring nominations in “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist”, “Video of the Year”, and “Best Collaboration” for “Feeling Myself” with Nicki Minaj. Rihanna is in the running for awards including “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist”, “Video of the Year” and “Best Collaboration” for “Work” featuring Drake. Other nominees include newcomer Bryson Tiller who is up for four awards including “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist”, while Chris Brown is also nominated in four categories including “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist” and “Video Director of the Year”. Future could also walk away with four awards, including one for “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”.
Created in 2001, the BET Awards recognizes artists, entertainers, athletes and philanthropists across 20+ categories (nominees in further categories including “Best New Act: Viewer’s Choice”, and “Global Good” to be revealed at a later date). This year’s broadcast celebrates 16 years of spectacular BET Awards performances, must-see moments, outstanding talent, and exquisite music, which has set the standard for music awards with highlights such as Alicia Keys performing during the Prince “Lifetime Achievement Award” tribute (2010) andMichael Jackson taking the stage with James Brown (2003), to Beyoncé performing a lap dance for Terrence Howard (2005) and the reuniting of The Fugees (2005).
“Now in its sixteenth year, the BET Awards continues to honour some of today’s biggest names in music and entertainment along with legends in the industry,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming. “The nominees this year represent an incredible array of artists and exceptional athletes who inspire their fans around the globe."
The complete list of nominees for the 2016 "BET Awards" are:
Best International Act: Africa
AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)
BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA)
CASSPER NYOVEST (SOUTH AFRICA)
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)
MZVEE (Ghana)
SERGE BEYNAUD (COTE D’IVOIRE)
WIZKID (NIGERIA)
YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA)
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
ADELE
ANDRA DAY
BEYONCÉ
K. MICHELLE
RIHANNA
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
BRYSON TILLER
CHRIS BROWN
JEREMIH
THE WEEKND
TYRESE
Best Group
2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE
DRAKE & FUTURE
PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY
RAE SREMMURD
THE INTERNET
Best Collaboration
BIG SEAN FT. CHRIS BROWN & TY DOLLA $IGN - PLAY NO GAMES
BIG SEAN FT. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGEND - ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
FUTURE FT. DRAKE - WHERE YA AT
NICKI MINAJ FT. BEYONCÉ - FEELING MYSELF
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
DRAKE
FETTY WAP
FUTURE
J. COLE
KANYE WEST
KENDRICK LAMAR
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
DEJ LOAF
LIL KIM
MISSY ELLIOTT
NICKI MINAJ
REMY MA
Video of the Year
BEYONCÉ - FORMATION
BRYSON TILLER - DON'T
DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING
KENDRICK LAMAR - ALRIGHT
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK
Video Director of the Year
BENNY BOOM
CHRIS BROWN
COLIN TILLEY & THE LITTLE HOMIES
DIRECTOR X
HYPE WILLIAMS
Best New Artist
ALESSIA CARA
ANDRA DAY
BRYSON TILLER
KEHLANI
TORY LANEZ
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY
ERICA CAMPBELL
KIRK FRANKLIN
LECRAE
TAMELA MANN
TASHA COBBS
Best Actress
GABRIELLE UNION
KERRY WASHINGTON
TARAJI P. HENSON
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
VIOLA DAVIS
Best Actor
ANTHONY ANDERSON
COURTNEY B. VANCE
IDRIS ELBA
MICHAEL B. JORDAN
O'SHEA JACKSON JR.
YoungStars Award
AMANDLA STENBERG
QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS
SILENTÓ
WILLOW SMITH
YARA SHAHIDI
Best Movie
BEASTS OF NO NATION
CONCUSSION
CREED
DOPE
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
CHEYENNE WOODS
GABRIELLE DOUGLAS
SERENA WILLIAMS
SKYLAR DIGGINS
VENUS WILLIAMS
Subway Sportsman of the Year
CAM NEWTON
KOBE BRYANT
LEBRON JAMES
ODELL BECKHAM JR.
STEPHEN CURRY
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
BEYONCÉ – FORMATION
BRYSON TILLER – DON’T
CHRIS BROWN – BACK TO SLEEP
DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING
FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK
Centric Award
ANDRA DAY - RISE UP
BEYONCÉ – FORMATION
K. MICHELLE – NOT A LITTLE BIT
RIHANNA - BBHMM
THE INTERNET - UNDER CONTROL
Best International Act UK
KANO
KREPT & KONAN
LIANNE LA HAVAS
SKEPTA
STORMZY
TINIE TEMPAH
To vote for your favourite artist, please go www.betafrica.tv from 20 May to 2 June 2016.
For more information on the BET Awards, visit www.betafrica.tv, like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/BETinAfrica, or join the conversation about the channel on Twitter and Instagram @BET_Africa using the hashtag #BETAwards16.