This year’s BET Awards nominees have been announced and East Africa is represented by Diamond Platnumz.
Last year, Eddy Kenzo won the coveted BET Award in the Best New International Act category.
Our Muko (Ba Wa Zari), Tanzania star Diamond Platnumz is the only East African on the list in the Best International Act Africa category.
He will be tussling it out for the award with three South Africans; AKA, Black Coffee and Cassper Nyovest, two Nigerians; Wiz Kid and Yemi Alede, plus Mzvee from Ghana and Serge Beynaud from Cote D’ivoire.
Ghana’s Stonebwoy won the African category last year.
Rapper Drake leads the park with nine nominations this year, miles ahead of any other artiste. Beyonce and Rihanna earned five each; Future and Bryson Tiller earned four apiece while Adele received her first BET nomination in the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist category.
This year’s ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 26 at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.
Below is the full list of nominees.
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 feat. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign – “Play No Games”
Big Sean feat. Kanye West & John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
Future feat. Drake – “Where Ya At”
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé – “Feeling Myself”
Rihanna feat. 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 feat. 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
Sportswoman of the Year
Cheyenne Woods
Gabrielle Douglas
Serena Williams
Skylar Diggins
Venus Williams
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 feat. Drake – “Where Ya At”
Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”
Centric Award
Andra Day – “Rise Up”
Beyoncé – “Formation”
K. Michelle – “Not a Little Bit”
Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money”
The Internet – “Under Control”
Best International Act Africa
Aka (South Africa)
Black Coffee (South Africa)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Mzvee (Ghana)
Serge Beynaud (Cote D’ivoire)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best International Act U.K.
Kano
Krept & Konan
Lianne La Havas
Skepta
Stormzy
Tinie Tempah