Tems, Wizkid, Fireboy And Others Get Nominations For 2022 BET Awards

Nigeria’s Wizkid, Tems, and Fireboy; Fally Ipupa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and South Africa’s Major League Djz have scored nominations at this year’s BET Awards slated for Los Angeles on June 26.

The BET Awards recognize artists, entertainers, athletes, and philanthropists across over 20 categories since its debut in 2001. According to the organizers, this year’s nominees portray a wealth of creative expression and black excellence across music, television, film, and sports. The show will be hosted by award-winning actor Taraji P. Henson and will air live on BET at 8 pm ET/PT from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Tems, an afrobeat sensation, leads the African continent with three (3) nominations. She has been nominated in three categories for her performance on WizKid’s global smash hit “Essence,” including Best New Artist, Best International Act, and Best Collaboration. She has earned recognition for her distinct blend of R&B and soul with African nuances, a technique that has piqued the interest of international stars such as Chris Brown, Future, and Drake.

Wizkid comes in second, with two nominations in the “Best Collaboration” and “Best Male R&B/Pop artiste” categories for his chart-topping single “Essence,” which features Justin Bieber and Tems.

Wizkid built his reputation as an Afrobeats folklore through his first three LPs, Superstar (2011), Ayo (2014), and Sounds From the Other Side (2015), after establishing a profile all through the 2000s with co-writing credits and feature spots (2017). However, it is his fourth studio album, 2020’s Made in Lagos, that has established him as one of Nigeria’s significant cultural ambassadors and placed him at the forefront of a global Afrobeat wave.

Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Fireboy DML (Nigeria), and Major League Djz (South Africa) are among the other nominees for Best International Act.

Meanwhile, Doja Cat has six nominations for the 2022 BET Awards, the most by an artist. Doja is nominated for best female R&B/pop artist, best female hip hop artist, an album of the year for Planet Her, BET Her for “Woman,” and two awards for “Kiss Me More,” which features SZA. Doja Cat is the only artist nominated in both R&B/pop and hip hop categories this year, demonstrating her broad appeal.

Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2022 BET Awards:

Album of the year

An Evening With Silk Sonic, Silk Sonic
Back of My Mind, H.E.R.
Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator
Certified Lover Boy, Drake
Donda, Kanye West
Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Jazmine Sullivan
Planet Her, Doja Cat

Best female R&B/pop artist

Ari Lennox
Chlöe
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker

Best male R&B/pop artist

Blxst
Chris Brown
Givēon
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd
Wizkid
Yung Bleu

Best female hip hop artist

Cardi B
Doja Cat
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie

Best male hip hop artist

Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby

Best group

Silk Sonic
Chlöe X Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Young Dolph & Key Glock

Best collaboration

“Essence,” Wizkid Feat. Justin Bieber & Tems
“Every Chance I Get,” DJ Khaled Feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Feat. SZA
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake Feat. Future & Young Thug
“Whole Lotta Money” (Remix), Bia Feat. Nicki Minaj

Best new artist

Baby Keem
Benny the Butcher
Latto
Muni Long
Tems
Yung Bleu

Video of the year

“Family Ties,” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Feat. SZA
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake Feat. Future & Young Thug

Video director of the year

Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak
Benny Boom
Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott

Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award

“All in Your Hands,” Marvin Sapp
“Come to Life,” Kanye West
Grace. Kelly Price
Hallelujah. Fred Hammond
Hold Us Together (Hope Mix), H.E.R. & Tauren Wells
Jireh, Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music
We Win, Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin

BET Her

“Best of Me (Originals),” Alicia Keys
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
“Roster,” Jazmine Sullivan
“Unloyal,” Summer Walker & Ari Lennox
“Woman,” Doja Cat

Best international act

Dave (U.K.)
Dinos (France)
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Fireboy Dml (Nigeria)
Little Simz (U.K.)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Major League Djz (South Africa)
Tayc (France)
Tems (Nigeria)

Best movie

Candyman
King Richard
Respect
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Summer of Soul
The Harder They Fall

Best actor

Adrian Holmes, Bel Air
Anthony Anderson, Black-Ish
Damson Idris, Snowfall
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Forest Whitaker, Respect | Godfather of Harlem
Jabari Banks, Bel Air
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Will Smith, King Richard

Best actress

Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Coco Jones, Bel Air
Issa Rae, Insecure
Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Mary J. Blige, Power Book II: Ghost
Queen Latifah, The Equalizer
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Regina King, The Harder They Fall
Zendaya, Euphoria | Spider-Man: No Way Home