MPHO RANTAO
NIGERIAN starlet Tems has bagged her first British Entertainment Television (BET) Award nomination.
The singer, real name Temilade Openiyi, has been nominated alongside six other artists for BET”s Best New International Act: Viewers Choice, which is usually awarded during the pre-show airing of the BET Awards.
Previous winners of this award include South Africa’s Sho Madjozi, Zimbabwe’s Shasha and Wizkid, who has had the most wins in the Best International Act category as an African artist.
Tems rose to the top of the music charts with her debut EP, For Broken Ears, but is popularly known for her feature on Wizkid’s hit single ‘Essence’ from his recent Made in Lagos album.
The large group of international nominees in the same category include British artists singer Arlo Parks and rapper Bree Runway; France’s Ronisia and Bramsito, and Brazil’s MC Dricka.
“The ‘Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act’ category was created to award breakthrough talent and emerging voices in music from around the world,” said Monde Twala, Senior vice president and GM Viacom CBS and BET International Peer Lead.
“We’re thrilled to honor this year’s exceptional nominees on the global ‘BET Awards’ platform.”
The African artists nominated for the Best International Act (to be awarded in the main show) include France-based Malian singer Aya Nakamura; Burna Boy; UK rappers Headie One, and duo Young T and Bugsey; Wizkid, Brazilian rapper Emicida; and DRC-born rapper Youssoupha.
On the African nominations, Twala saw the BET nominations as an exceptional reflection of how the music entertainment industry has experienced a thrilling ride of diverse and culturally rich projects showcased by African artists.
“We are proud to have this opportunity to showcase a diverse and culturally rich list of international nominees of african artists and including Brazil talent for the first time in the best international act category,” Twala added.
On American soil, rappers DaBaby and Megan Thee Stallion lead the pack of nominations with seven respectively, with Thee Stallion receiving nods in Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, and Album of the Year for her debut LP Good News.
Fellow rap nominees Cardi B and Drake followed behind with five nominations each. Cardi B’s nominations include Best Collaboration for ‘WAP’ with Megan Thee Stallion; and in Video of the Year for ‘Up’ and ‘WAP’.
Drake’s rockstar year in awards continues with his BET nods in Best Collaboration, Video of the Year for ‘Laugh Now Cry Later’ with Lil Durk, Viewers Choice Award and Best Male Hip-Hop Artist.
This year’s instalment of the awards show will have a live audience with vaccinated individuals, returning to the BET stage for a live show, after last year’s show was converted into a virtual show due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The show will simulcast live 02am CAT from Los Angeles on BET Africa (Dstv Channel 129) on June 28, followed by a repeat on the same day at 8pm, airing with the pre-show premiering at 7pm CAT.
