BET Awards 2023: Burna Boy, Wizkid Tems Recognised

The nominations for the BET Awards 2023 have been unveiled, and Nigerian music icons Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, Ayra Starr, and Asake have secured spots in various categories.

Scheduled for June 25, 2023, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, the BET Awards recognizes excellence in black entertainment. This year’s nominees represent a global spectrum of talent, but it is the Nigerian stars dominating the major categories that have everyone buzzing.

Burna Boy, the recipient of the Best International Act award at the 2021 BET Awards, finds himself nominated once again in the same category. Additionally, Burna Boy has secured nominations in prominent categories such as Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Viewers Choice Award, where he will face tough competition from renowned artists like Chris Brown, Blxst, Drake, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Lizzo, Jack Harlow, and Nicki Minaj.

Tems, known for her chart-topping hits like “Essence” and her rendition of “No Woman No Cry” for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” has gained widespread acclaim in the music industry. She has earned nominations for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best Collaboration, and Viewer’s Choice Award. Tems will go head-to-head with esteemed artists like Ari Lennox, Beyoncé, Coco Jones, H.E.R., Lizzo, and SZA in the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist category.

Wizkid, the winner of the ‘Best Collaboration’ category in 2022, is once again in contention for the same accolade with his track “Call Me Everyday” featuring Chris Brown.

Ayra Starr and Asake, both first-time nominees, have earned nods in the Best International Act and Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act categories respectively.

Ayra Starr, a rising star signed to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, has quickly become one of Nigeria’s most exciting new artists, capturing attention with hits like “Rush” and “Bloody Samaritan.” Asake, on the other hand, has been making waves in the Nigerian music scene since 2021 with his successful debut album “Mr Money with The Vibe.”

Drake and GloRilla dominate the nomination list this year, with Drake amassing seven nominations, including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Best Group with 21 Savage, and Album of the Year for “Her Loss” with 21 Savage.

GloRilla’s nominations span across solo and collaborative efforts, including Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best New Artist, Album of the Year for “Anyways, Life’s Great,” Video of the Year for “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B, and two nominations for Best Collaboration with “F.N.F. Let’s Go” and “Tomorrow 2.”

With intense competition and heightened anticipation, fans eagerly await the BET Awards results. The BET Awards has established itself as one of the music industry’s most prestigious events, with winning a BET Award signifying a pivotal moment in an artist’s career. The awards show has a rich history of celebrating black excellence in entertainment, consistently promoting and uplifting black voices in popular culture.

In recent years, Nigerian music has gained global recognition, and the BET Awards nominations underscore the talent and dedication of Nigerian artists. Burna Boy and Wizkid’s previous victories at the BET Awards marked significant milestones for the Nigerian music industry, and this year’s nominations further exemplify the industry’s growth and triumphs.

As the countdown to the BET Awards 2023 commences, fans are already placing their bets on who will emerge triumphant. Will Burna Boy defend his title as Best International Act, or will Wizkid reclaim the award? Could Tems become the first Nigerian artist to win Best Female R&B/Pop Artist? Or can Ayra Starr or Asake shock the world?