Eddy Kenzo of ‘Sitya Loss’ fame and the guy who clinched the first ever 2015 BET Viewer’s Choice Best New International Artist is still undisputed in Sub Saharan Africa.
By Monday morning, it had been expected socialite Zari Hassan’s baby daddy, Diamond Platnumz could eclipse at the world stage by winning the 2016 BET Best International Act (Africa) award.
Instead it was collected by South Africa’s DJ Black Coffee who beat off great competitors including Wizkid, AKA and Cassper Nyovest. Others in the category include Yemi Alade, Mzvee and Cote D’Ivoire’s Coupé Decalé star Serge Beynaud.
“Black-ish” stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross returned to host the TV event at the Microsoft Theater, with a ceremony that opened with a surprise performance from Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.
Going into the awards, Drake led the nominations with nine, with Rihanna and Beyoncé tied for second place with five.
Drake won the prize for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, beating out last year’s winner Kendrick Lamar, as well as the other nominees Fetty Wap, Future, J. Cole and Kanye West. The Toronto rapper also took home the prize for Best Group for his What A Time To Be Alive mixtape with Future, and Best Collaboration with Rihanna, for their track “Work.”
The man behind that video, Toronto’s Director X, took home the honor of Video Director Of The Year.
Beyoncé was voted Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, and her video for “Formation” won for Video Of The Year, the Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award, and the Centric Award.
Nicki Minaj continued her dominance in the Female Hip Hop Artist category, taking home the trophy for the seventh straight year.
Two prizes were pre-announced for the show: a Lifetime Achievement Award that went to actor Samuel L. Jackson for his body of work in film, and a Humanitarian Award that went to “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams for his contributions to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Have a look at the full list below.
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
*Drake – WINNER
Fetty Wap
Future
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
*Nicki Minaj – WINNER
Dej Loaf
Lil Kim
Missy Elliott
Remy Ma
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
*Beyoncé – WINNER
Adele
Andra Day
K. Michelle
Rihanna
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
*Bryson Tiller – WINNER
Chris Brown
Jeremih
The Weeknd
Tyrese
Best Group
*Drake & Future – WINNER
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
Puff Daddy & The Family
Rae Sremmurd
The Internet
Best New Artist
*Bryson Tiller – WINNER
Alessia Cara
Andra Day
Kehlani
Tory Lanez
Best Collaboration
*Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work” – WINNER
Future feat. Drake — “Where Ya At”
Big Sean feat. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign – “Play No Games”
Big Sean feat. Kanye West & John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé – “Feeling Myself”
Video of the Year
*Beyoncé – “Formation” – WINNER
Bryson Tiller – “Don’t”
Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”
Video Director of the Year
Director X – WINNER
Benny Boom
Chris Brown
Colin Tilley & The Little Homies
Hype Williams
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
*Kirk Franklin – WINNER
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
Erica Campbell
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Tasha Cobbs
Best Actress
*Taraji P. Henson – WINNER
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Tracee Ellis Ross
Viola Davis
Best Actor
*Michael B. Jordan – WINNER
Anthony Anderson
Courtney B. Vance
Idris Elba
O’shea Jackson Jr.
Youngstars Award
*Amandla Stenberg – WINNER
Quvenzhané Wallis
Silentó
Willow Smith
Yara Shahidi
Best Movie
*Straight Outta Compton – WINNER
Beasts of No Nation
Concussion
Creed
Dope
Sportswoman of the Year
*Serena Williams – WINNER
Cheyenne Woods
Gabrielle Douglas
Skylar Diggins
Venus Williams
Sportsman of the Year
*Stephen Curry – WINNER
Cam Newton
Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Odell Beckham Jr.
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
*Beyoncé – “Formation” – WINNER
Bryson Tiller – “Don’t”
Chris Brown – “Back to Sleep”
Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Future feat. Drake – “Where Ya At”
Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”
Centric Award
*Beyoncé – “Formation” – WINNER
Andra Day – “Rise Up”
K. Michelle – “Not a Little Bit”
Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money”
The Internet – “Under Control”
Best International Act Africa
UPDATE: There was some confusion over the winner of this award. The actual winner was Black Coffee, not Wizkid.
Black Coffee (South Africa) – WINNER
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Aka (South Africa)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Mzvee (Ghana)
Serge Beynaud (Cote d’Ivoire)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best International Act U.K.
*Skepta – WINNER
Kano
Krept & Konan
Lianne La Havas
Stormzy
Tinie Tempah
