African stars Tems, Wizkid, and Mental Health advocate Sitawa Wafulu, were announced winners at the 2022 BET Awards held end of June, at the Microsoft Theatre, Los Angeles. The annual melting pot of black culture and entertainment celebrated talent and culture from across all corners of the world. Tems, who was nominated across three categories — Best International Act, Best Collaboration, and Best New Artiste — was announced the winner in two of the categories. The multi-genre star, who made history on Sunday as the first African woman to win the Best International Award beat her Nigerian contemporary, Fireboy DML; South African sensation, Major League DJZ; British rap queen, Little Simz; Congolese star, Fally Ipupa; French “Solaar,” Dinos; Award-winning British rapper and lyricist, Dave; Cameroonian-French singer, Tayc and Brazilian sensation, Ludmilla who were also nominated for the category.

Receiving her award, she said, “Thank you so much for this, thank you so much. It is an honour, this is my first award show that I’m winning something.” The 27-year-old also won the Best Collaboration Award alongside music legends Wizkid and Justin Bieber, for the global-chart-topping masterpiece, “Essence“.

Scoring a different first, Fireboy DML had the first-ever African performance on the BET stage. The star set the stage ablaze with his fan-favourite, “Peru” and all-new single, “Playboy”.

“The 2022 BET Awards was filled with many proud moments. Cultures biggest night was a true display of our rich and colourful diversity,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Paramount Africa and Peer Lead BET International.  “It was such an honour to not only celebrate all nominees and winners, but to also experience their amazing ingenuity and power of creativity. I say a hearty congratulation to all nominees, winners and honorees for the well deserved recognition.”

For her outstanding work with mental health in Africa, Kenya’s Sitawa Wafula was recognised as the Global Good Honouree. Past recipients of this Award include Brazilian activist and writer Djamila Ribeiro, French social justice activist Assa Traoré, and artist and philanthropist Akon.
 
The night also included a star-studded tribute to Sean “Diddy” Combs who was honored with the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, making the show once again the #1 trending topic on Twitter.

Other significant winners at the Awards include, Jazmine Sullivan (Best Female R&B/Pop Artist), Megan Thee Stallion (Best Female Hip Hop Artist), Kendrick Lamar (Best Male Hip Hop Artist), Latto (Best New Artist), The Weeknd (Best male R&B/Pop Artist), Marsai Martin (Youngstars Award), Naomi Osaka (Sportswoman of the Year Award) and Stephen Curry (Sportsman of the Year Award).

The complete list of winners for the “BET AWARDS” 2022 are:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

An Evening with Silk Sonic – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic

BEST COLLABORATION

Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems – “Essence”

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Jazmine Sullivan

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

The Weeknd

BEST NEW ARTIST

Latto

BEST GROUP

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Megan Thee Stallion

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Kendrick Lamar 

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin – “We Win”

BET HER AWARD

Mary J. Blige – “Good Morning Gorgeous”

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Tems (Nigeria)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties” 

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak

BEST MOVIE

King Richard

BEST ACTRESS

Zendaya

BEST ACTOR

Will Smith 

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Marsai Martin 

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Naomi Osaka

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Stephen Curry