Nigerian International singer, Burna Boy has won the award for Best International Act at the 2021 BET Awards show held last night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The singer beat fellow Nigerian, Wizkid, and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania to the award.

Others nominated in the category are Aya Nakamura (France), Emicida (Brazil), Headie One (United Kingdom), Young T & Bugsey (United Kingdom), and Youssopha (France).

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This year’s BET award aimed at honoring “creative expression and Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports”.

Taraji P. Henson hosted the ceremony, which this year featured the theme ‘Year of the Black Woman’. It can be recalled that last year, the BET Awards was one of the first major awards shows to take place after the start of the pandemic, though it took place virtually and remotely.

taraji2520p2520henson2520bet2520gold — Taraji P. Henson, American actress

This year, the BET Awards returned to the live show format and welcomed back an in-person, vaccinated audience along with a red carpet. Organizers said they would work closely with Los Angeles County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

Henson said after coming out on stage, talking to the live audience, some of whom were in masks, while many were not: “I am so excited to be here with humans; we need each other”.

During the show, Queen Latifah was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Before she took the stage to give her acceptance speech, Monie Love, Rapsody, MC Lyte, and Lil’ Kim performed a tribute to Latifah, including her own hit ‘U.N.I.T.Y’, as the rapper-actress got emotional while watching from the audience.

Latifah brought her own father onstage, along with a photo of her mother, who died in 2018.

“I am so extremely moved, I don’t even know what to say,” she said, before thanking God and her parents, family, friends, and fans for supporting “every crazy-ass thing I’ve done over the years”.
“Creating an outlet for beautiful Blackness to thrive, to shine. When we couldn’t get played on the radio in other places, we couldn’t get our videos played in other places, there was BET that allowed us to be in our fullness and to shine to this night, right now, right here. Peace, happy Pride”.

Queen Latifah with a picture of her mother and Lancelot Owens, Sr. pose at the BET Awards 2021

Meanwhile, Cardi B revealed her second pregnancy during her performance with Migos. The rapper, who has a daughter, Kulture, with husband Offset, wore a blinged-out, one-piece outfit with a mesh cutout showing off her pregnant belly.

cardi b offset — Cardi B and her husband, Offset

Kicking off the show were Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin, who performed their song ‘We Win’, from the soundtrack of ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’.

More so, Lil Nas X, who sang ‘Call Me by Your Name’ donning Egyptian-themed attire against an Egyptian-themed backdrop. The energetic performance featured male backup dancers whom he kissed one at the end of the performance.

That notwithstanding, other performers include Silk Sonic, Andra Day, DaBaby, DJ Khaled, Sullivan, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, City Girls, Lil Durk, Moneybagg Yo, Rapsody, and Tyler, the Creator.

Nonetheless, Swizz Beatz performed a tribute to the late rapper DMX, who died in April at age 50. Busta Rhymes, Method Man and Griselda performed during the tribute, which followed the ‘In Memoriam’ segment remembering those who died over the past year. Their medley included a rousing performance of ‘Party Up (Up in Here)’.

Full list of winners:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR- HEAUX TALES – JAZMINE SULLIVAN

BEST COLLABORATION- CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP

BEST FEMALE R&B / POP ARTIST- H.E.R.

BEST MALE R&B / POP ARTIST- CHRIS BROWN

BEST NEW ARTIST- GIVEON

BEST GROUP- SILK SONIC

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST-MEGAN THEE STALLION

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST- LIL BABY

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD- KIRK FRANKLIN – STRONG GOD

BET HER AWARD- SZA – GOOD DAYS

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT- BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)