Nigerian pop star Davido won Best International Act on Sunday in Los Angeles, United States at the BET Awards 2018 while American Beyonce won best female R&B/Pop Artist award.
Host Jamie Foxx kicked off the ceremony by telling viewers he was there to celebrate. Foxx brought "Black Panther" star Michael B. Jordan to the stage and asked him to recite the powerful line from the film, "Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, because they knew death was better than bondage."
Davido emerged the winner among nominees that included female Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage. There were other nominees such as Booba (FRANCE), Cassper Nyovest (SA), Dadju (FRANCE), Distruction Boyz (SA), Fally Ipupa (DR CONGO), J Hus (UK), NISKA (FRANCE), Stefflon Don (UK) and Stormzy (UK).
Beyonce also beat SZA, H.E.R., Rihanna, Kehlani to emerge winner. Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Bruno Mars were all winners in the night.
The BET Awards, established by Black Entertainment Television to recognise the best in African American culture, maintains an international category for black music from outside the United States.
Davido, 25, in his acceptance speech called for collaboration between African Americans and Africa. "I’m telling you guys — come to Africa, eat the food, wear the clothes,” he told the audience full of African American A-list celebrities. "Let’s collaborate, everybody. Let’s collaborate, man,” he said.
Complete list of Winners:
Best Female R&B/pop artiste award
Beyoncé SZA H.E.R Rihanna Kehlani
Best Male R&B/Pop artiste award
Bruno Mars Chris Brown The Weeknd Khalid Daniel Caesar
Best group award
*Migos A Tribe Called Quest N.E.R.D. Rae Sremmurd Chloe X Halle
Best collaboration award
Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B – "Finesse (Remix)” DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – "Wild Thoughts” DJ Khaled feat. Jay-Z, Future, and Beyoncé – "Top Off” Cardi B feat. 21 Savage – "Bartier Cardi” French Montana feat. Swae Lee – "Unforgettable” Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna – "LOYALTY.”
Best Male Hip hop artiste award
Drake Kendrick Lamar DJ Khaled Jay-Z J. Cole
Best Female Hip hop artiste award
Cardi B Nicki Minaj Remy Ma DeJ Loaf Rapsody
Video of the year award
Drake – "God’s Plan” Cardi B – "Bodak Yellow” Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B – "Finesse (Remix)” DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – "Wild Thoughts” Kendrick Lamar – "HUMBLE.” Migos feat. Drake – "Walk It Talk It”
Video director of the year award
Benny Boom Director X Ava Duvernay Chris Brown Dave Meyers
Best New Artist Award
SZA H.E.R. Daniel Caesar GOLDLINK A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award
Lecrae feat. Tori Kelly – "I’ll Find You” Snoop Dogg feat. B. Slade – "Words Are Few” Ledisi & Kirk Franklin – "If You Don’t Mind” Marvin Sapp – "Close” Tasha Cobbs Leonard feat. Nicki Minaj – "I’m Getting Ready”
The best international act award
Booba (France) Cassper Nyovest (SA) Dadju (France) Davido (Nigeria) Distruction Boyz (SA) Fally Ipupa (Dr. Congo) J Hus (U.K.) Niska (France) Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) Stefflon Don (U.K.) Stormzy (U.K.)
Best actress award
Tiffany Haddish Lupita Nyong’o Issa Rae Angela Bassett Letitia Wright Taraji P. Henson
Best actor award
Chadwick Boseman Michael B. Jordan Donald Glover Sterling K. Brown Denzel Washington Daniel Kaluuya
Young stars award
Yara Shahidi Ashton Tyler Caleb McLaughlin Lonnie Chavis Marsai Martin Miles Brown
Best movie award
Black Panther Girls Trip A Wrinkle in Time Detroit Mudbound
Sportswoman of the year award
Serena Williams Venus Williams Skylar Diggins-Smith Candace Parker Elana Meyers Taylor
Sportsman of the year award
Stephen Curry LeBron James Kevin Durant Dwayne Wade Odell Beckham Jr.
Album of the year award
DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar CTRL – SZA 4:44 – Jay-Z Culture II – Migos Black Panther: The Album – Kendrick Lamar & Various Artists Grateful – DJ Khaled
BET her award
Janelle Monae – "Django Jane” Lizzo – "Water Me” Mary J. Blige – "Strength of a Woman” Remy Ma feat. Chris Brown – "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)” Chloe X Halle – "The Kids Are Alright” Leikeli47 – "2nd Fiddle”
Coca-Cola viewers’ choice award
SZA feat. Travis Scott – "Love Galore” Cardi B – "Bodak Yellow” Kendrick Lamar – "HUMBLE.” Drake – "God’s Plan” Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj – "Motor Sport” DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – "Wild Thoughts.”Agencies.
This article was originally published in Vanguard.