The nominees for the 2022 BET Awards have been announced and one category that is of much interest to Ghanaians is the Best International Act, a category that was won by Sarkodie in 2012 and Stonebwoy in 2015.
Unfortunately, no Ghanaian musician earned a nomination in that category when the list of nominees was released on June 1, 2022.
The nominees for the Best International Act are Dave (U.K.), Dinos (France), Fally Ipupa (the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Fireboy Dml (Nigeria), Little Simz (U.K.), Ludmilla (Brazil), Major League Djz (South Africa), Tayc (France) and Tems (Nigeria).
This will not be the first time Ghana has not had a nomination at the BET. It is actually the fourth consecutive time no Ghanaian artiste has been nominated in that category since 2019.
In previous years, Ghana had nominees but did not win. In 2010, Kojo Antwi lost to Dizzee Rascal of UK, D-Black lost to 2Face Idibia & D’Banj of Nigeria in 2011 while R2Bees lost to Ice Prince of Nigeria in 2013. Nigeria’s Davido won over Ghana’s Sarkodie in 2014 while MzVee in 2016 lost to Black Coffee of South Africa. Stonebwoy after winning in 2015 lost to WizKid of Nigeria in 2017.
This year’s event is expected to be held on June 26, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
BET Awards 2022 nominations are selected by BET’s Voting Academy, which is comprised of an esteemed group of entertainment professionals in the fields of music, television, film, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, influencers, and creative arts.
The winners in the 19 categories, including film and sports awards, will also be selected by BET’s Voting Academy.
Doja Cat is leading the nomination list being the most nominated artist. The chart-topping performer scored six nominations. Doja Cat is up for best female R&B-pop artist, best female hip-hop artist, album of the year for her No. 1 hit ‘Planet Her’, and BET Her for ‘Woman’. Her ‘Kiss Me More’ with SZA is nominated for video of the year and best collaboration.
Drake and Ari Lennox are the second-most nominated artists, scoring four nods each. Three nominations went to several others including Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Chloe Bailey, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Ye, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige, and Tems.
Drake will battle Kendrick Lamar, Future, J. Cole, Jack Harlow, Ye, and Lil Baby for best male hip-hop artist. Meanwhile, Doja Cat will face off against Cardi B, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, and Saweetie for best female hip-hop artist.
Basketball star, Brittney Griner, whose pre-trial detention in Russia was recently extended by one month, is nominated for sportswoman of the year. The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained at a Moscow airport in February after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage. She faces drug smuggling charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Griner is nominated in the same category as Candace Parker, Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Simone Biles.
Meanwhile, actor, Taraji P. Henson will host the BET Awards for a second consecutive year.
