Ghanaian artist, Black Sherif could not win the Best International Act at the 2025 BET Awards held on June 9, 2025.
However, Nigerian singer and Afrobeat artist Ayra Starr won on the night.
She beat off stiff competition from Any Gabrielly (Brazil), Basky (UK), Ezra Collective (UK), Joé Dwèt Filé (France), MC Luanna (Brazil), Rema (Nigeria), SDM (France), Tyla (South Africa), and Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) to win the coveted Best International Act Award.
Ayra Starr has since 2022 received several nominations at the BET Awards.
Her nominations have included Best New International Act (BET Awards 2022), Best International Act (BET Awards 2023), BET Her Award (for “Commas,” 2024), and Best New Artist, Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, and Best International Act at the 2025 BET Awards.
The ceremony which took place on Monday’s night at Peacock Theater at Los Angeles, is known for honouring Black excellence in music, film, sports, and culture.
This year, it returned with comedian Kevin Hart as host. Hart, who previously hosted the show in 2011, opened the night with bold humour and sharp jabs at major pop culture figures, including Kanye West.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home four major awards.
Kendrick Lamar Dominates BET Awards with Top Prizes
Kendrick Lamar won big at the 2025 BET Awards, taking home album of the year for his critically acclaimed 2024 LP GNX.
And while accepting the coveted prize onstage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Monday night (June 9), the rapper explained why the recognition was extra special coming from BET.
The rapper took home the awards for album of the year for GNX, best male hip-hop artist, video of the year for “Not Like Us” and best collaboration alongside SZA for “Luther.” Lamar also shared the award for video director of the year with his longtime creative partner Dave Free.
After first hugging his “Luther” collaborator and tourmate SZA, who excitedly cheered him on in the audience, Lamar began by saying, “I ain’t been here in a long time, but I always kept it in my heart.”
“BET always makes sure its representing the culture right. I’ll always give my heart to BET.”
Kendrick Lamar
After giving shout-outs “first and foremost” to God, followed by his teammates at his company PGLang, Lamar gave the grinning “Kill Bill” singer a nod. “SZA in the crowd,” he said, gesturing to his friend. “We on tour right now, please come to the show.”
The Compton native then made his way to exit the stage, but the night’s host, Kevin Hart, stopped him in his tracks to unceremoniously present him with several other BET trophies.
Lamar – who was the show’s top nominee in 2025, earning 10 nods – could barely hold all the prizes as he walked offstage with them.
Released in November, GNX was a massive success. The LP spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and produced several Billboard Hot 100 hits, including the 13-week chart-topper “Luther” with SZA.
As mentioned by Kendrick Lamar in his speech, he’s now supporting the album on his Grand National Tour with SZA. The joint run kicked off April 19 in Minneapolis, just a couple of months after the duet partners performed at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in February.
Monday night wasn’t the first time Lamar has won album of the year at the BET Awards, with the hip-hop titan last taking home the award in 2018 for his Pulitzer Prize-winning ‘Damn’.
Last year’s BET hip-hop awards were also dominated by Lamar, where he won eight out of 11 nominations.
SZA and Chris Brown won best female and male R&B/pop artists, respectively. Doechii also won the award for best female hip-hop artist. Other winners included Leon Thomas for best new artist, Denzel Washington for best actor and Cynthia Erivo for best actress.
Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Kirk Franklin and Snoop Dogg were also among the honorees for the 2025 Ultimate Icon Award.
Throughout the ceremony, GloRilla, Ledisi, Leon Thomas, Lil Wayne, Playboi Carti and Teyana Taylor were among those who took to the stage to perform.
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