Entertainment
7 Nigerians who have won the BET Awards.
Discover the Nigerian trailblazers who have claimed victory at the prestigious BET Awards, showcasing their exceptional talent on the global stage.
The BET Awards is an American award show established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans’ accomplishments in various fields of entertainment, including music, acting, and sports anually.
The Best International Act: Africa category was specifically introduced in 2011 to recognize the exceptional achievements of international artists from Africa. The Category was initially designed to accommodate two winners who would be celebrated jointly.
However, it faced criticism in 2015 when several African and UK artists voiced concerns over the perceived backstage treatment during the award presentation. According to them, their awards were presented to them in a pre-recorded segment backstage but this was blatantly denied by BET in a series of tweets.
Consequently, the Best International Act: Africa category merged with the Best International Act Award in 2017.
In this article, we highlight seven remarkable Nigerians who have triumphed at the BET Awards, showcasing their exceptional talent and contributions to the global entertainment industry.
1. Tuface Idibia
2Baba also known as Tuface Idibia was the first Nigerian to win the BET Award alongside his contemporary, D’banj They won the award in 2011 as they were arguably one of the best Musicians on the continent at that time.
2. D’banj
As you already know, the Koko Master grabbed his first and only BET Award alongside 2Baba in 2011. It is safe to say that they were the hottest musicians on the continent at that time, dropping back-to-back hits and touring all over the World.
3. Wizkid
The African Starboy and Grammy Winning artist also bagged his first BET Award in 2012, alongside the Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie. Wizkid also won the award again in 2017, this time, as a solo act. He won alongside Beyonce in 2020 for their 2019 International hit single ” Brown Skin Girl” In 2022, Wizkid became the first African artist to win a BET award for best collaboration, alongside his fellow compatriot, Tems for another international hit “Essence”
4. Ice Prince
Ice Prince was the first African artist to win the BET Award as a solo act in 2013. It was indeed a memorable moment for Africa and the music industry.
5. Davido
2014 was a great year for Davido as he won his first BET Award. By 2018, the singer won the award again.
6. Burna Boy
Burna Boy is the Nigerian artist with the most BET Awards. The Grammy Award winner has won the Best International Act category for the fourth time (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), beating Wizkid and Davido. Burna Boy might be a ‘New Cat‘ but he’s definitely outdoing himself, and we love it!
7. Tems
Temilade Openiyi, affectionately known as Tems made history as the first and only female artist in Nigeria and Africa to clinch the prestigious BET Awards. In 2022, she shattered Burna Boy’s streak of three consecutive BET Awards from 2019 to 2021. Notably, her collaboration with Wizkid also secured the coveted ‘best collaboration’ accolade, marking a groundbreaking win beyond the traditional Best International Act category. Furthermore, her joint effort with Future and Drake secured the Best Collaboration award in 2023. Not to mention, she is also the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy Award in 2023.
Conclusion
The seven Nigerian winners of the BET Awards have demonstrated their exceptional skills and creativity, leaving an indelible mark on the music and entertainment landscape. Their successes not only inspire future generations of Nigerian artists but also serve as a testament to the rich cultural contributions of Nigeria to the global stage.
Nigerian Artists Who Have Won Bet Awards
Between 2011 and 2023, seven Nigerians won a total of 16 BET awards for 11 years, with Wizkid and Burna Boy leading with the most BET awards 4 each. The table below shows the Nigerian artists who have been awarded, the years they won, and how many times they have won.
| S/N | Artist(s) | No. of Awards | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuface Idibia | 1 | 2011 |
| 2 | D’Banj | 1 | 2011 |
| 3 | Wizkid | 4 | 2012, 2017, 2020 2022 |
| 4 | Ice Prince | 1 | 2013 |
| 5 | Davido | 2 | 2014, 2018 |
| 6 | Burna Boy | 4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 |
| 7 | Tems | 3 | 2022, 2023 |