This year’s BET Awards nominations list was released yesterday but for the first time in five years, no artiste from East Africa made it to the list.
The only Africans who make it to the list include Best International Act: AKA (South Africa), Babes Wodumo (South Africa), Davido (Nigeria), Nasty C (South Africa), Stonebwoy (Ghana), Tekno (Nigeria), Wizkid (Nigeria) and Mr Eazi (Nigeria).
Last year 2016 in Los Angeles, South African DJ and Producer Black Coffee went home with the award edging out Wizkid, Yemi Alade, AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Diamond Platnumz, MzVee, and Serge Beynaud.
Coffee became the first South African to win an award in that category. Eddy Kenzo is the only musician to have won a BET Award.
The award ceremony celebrates mass achievements in black entertainment and honors music, sports, television, and movies released between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017.
Meanwhile, Beyoncé dominated this year’s nominations with a total of seven including ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist,’ ‘Best Collaboration’ with Kendrick Lamar for “Freedom,” ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Album of the Year’ for Lemonade. Bruno Mars follows with five nods including ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Best Male R&B/Pop artist,’ and ‘video of the year’ for “24K Magic.” Other nominees include Solange, nominated for four awards and who is up against sister Beyoncé for ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.’
Chance the Rapper and Migos receive four nominations as well,
Chance the Rapper nominated for ‘Best Male Hip-Hop Artist’ and ‘Best New Artist’
and Migos for ‘Best Group’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ for their #1 hit “Bad and Boujee” with Lil Uzi Vert.
