MZ VEE, WIZKID, YEMI ALADE, DIAMOND PLATNUMZ, AKA, CASSPER NYOVEST, BLACK COFFEE & SERGE BEYNAUD NOMINATED FOR “BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT: AFRICA”

BET Africa, part of Viacom’s African multimedia entertainment portfolio, today announced the nominations for the 2016 "BET Awards" taking place at Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, on Sunday 26 June, and premiering across Africa on BET (DStv channel 129) on Tuesday 28 June at 19:00 CAT.

Recognising the growing international appeal of African contemporary artists, eight African artists have been honoured in the BET Awards. Leading the charge for South African music are hip hop giants AKA and Cassper Nyovest and dance/house legend Black Coffee, Ghana’s dancehall/R&B queen MzVee, while Nigeria is represented by Wizkid (winner of the award in 2012) and Afro-pop diva, Yemi Alade.  East African sensation Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) and Cote D’Ivoire’s Coupé Decalé star Serge Beynaud round out the nominees for Africa.

Drake leads the list of entertainers nominated at this year’s awards with an impressive nine nominations including “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”, “Video of Year”, and “Best Collaboration” for his hit “Where Ya At” with fellow hip hop artist Future. Beyoncé and Rihanna follow with five nods each with Beyoncé scoring nominations in “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist”, “Video of the Year”, and “Best Collaboration” for “Feeling Myself” with Nicki Minaj. Rihanna is in the running for awards including “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist”, “Video of the Year” and “Best Collaboration” for “Work” featuring Drake. 

Other nominees include newcomer Bryson Tiller who is up for four awards including “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist”, while Chris Brown is also nominated in four categories including “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist” and “Video Director of the Year”.  Future could also walk away with four awards, including one for “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”.

Created in 2001, the BET Awards recognizes artists, entertainers, athletes and philanthropists across 20+ categories (nominees in further categories including “Best New Act: Viewer’s Choice”, and “Global Good” to be revealed at a later date).   

This year’s broadcast celebrates 16 years of spectacular BET Awards performances, must-see moments, outstanding talent, and exquisite music, which has set the standard for music awards with highlights such as Alicia Keys performing during the Prince “Lifetime Achievement Award” tribute (2010) and Michael Jackson taking the stage with James Brown (2003), to Beyoncé performing a lap dance for Terrence Howard (2005) and the reuniting of The Fugees (2005).

“Now in its sixteenth year, the BET Awards continues to honour some of today’s biggest names in music and entertainment along with legends in the industry,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming. “The nominees this year represent an incredible array of artists and exceptional athletes who inspire their fans around the globe."

The complete list of nominees for the 2016 "BET Awards" are:

Best International Act: Africa

MZVEE (Ghana)

AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)

BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA)

CASSPER NYOVEST (SOUTH AFRICA)

DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)

SERGE BEYNAUD (COTE D’IVOIRE)  

WIZKID (NIGERIA)

YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA)

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

ADELE

ANDRA DAY

BEYONCÉ

K. MICHELLE

RIHANNA

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

BRYSON TILLER

CHRIS BROWN

JEREMIH

THE WEEKND

TYRESE

Best Group

2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE

DRAKE & FUTURE

PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY

RAE SREMMURD

THE INTERNET

Best Collaboration

BIG SEAN FT. CHRIS BROWN & TY DOLLA $IGN - PLAY NO GAMES

BIG SEAN FT. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGEND - ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD   

FUTURE FT. DRAKE - WHERE YA AT                                                     

NICKI MINAJ FT. BEYONCÉ - FEELING MYSELF

RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

DRAKE

FETTY WAP

FUTURE

J. COLE

KANYE WEST

KENDRICK LAMAR

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

DEJ LOAF

LIL KIM

MISSY ELLIOTT

NICKI MINAJ

REMY MA

Video of the Year

BEYONCÉ - FORMATION

BRYSON TILLER - DON'T                                                             

DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING

KENDRICK LAMAR - ALRIGHT                                                                

RIHANNA FT. DRAKE  - WORK

Video Director of the Year

BENNY BOOM

CHRIS BROWN

COLIN TILLEY & THE LITTLE HOMIES

DIRECTOR X

HYPE WILLIAMS

Best New Artist

ALESSIA CARA

ANDRA DAY

BRYSON TILLER

KEHLANI

TORY LANEZ

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY

ERICA CAMPBELL

KIRK FRANKLIN

LECRAE

TAMELA MANN

TASHA COBBS

Best Actress

GABRIELLE UNION

KERRY WASHINGTON

TARAJI P. HENSON

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS

VIOLA DAVIS

Best Actor

ANTHONY ANDERSON

COURTNEY B. VANCE

IDRIS ELBA

MICHAEL B. JORDAN

O'SHEA JACKSON JR.

YoungStars Award

AMANDLA STENBERG

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS

SILENTÓ

WILLOW SMITH

YARA SHAHIDI

Best Movie

BEASTS OF NO NATION

CONCUSSION

CREED

DOPE

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Subway Sportswoman of the Year

CHEYENNE WOODS

GABRIELLE DOUGLAS

SERENA WILLIAMS

SKYLAR DIGGINS

VENUS WILLIAMS

Subway Sportsman of the Year

CAM NEWTON

KOBE BRYANT 

LEBRON JAMES 

ODELL BECKHAM JR.

STEPHEN CURRY

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award

BEYONCÉ – FORMATION

BRYSON TILLER – DON’T

CHRIS BROWN – BACK TO SLEEP

DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING

FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT

RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK

Centric Award

ANDRA DAY - RISE UP

BEYONCÉ – FORMATION

K. MICHELLE – NOT A LITTLE BIT

RIHANNA - BBHMM

THE INTERNET - UNDER CONTROL

Best International Act UK

KANO

KREPT & KONAN

LIANNE LA HAVAS

SKEPTA

STORMZY

TINIE TEMPAH