Today the 21st BET Awards 2021 nominees were revealed, including Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby with seven nominations each, and Diamond Platnumz as the only East African artist on the list.
KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA — Today, BET announced the nominees for BET Awards 2021, including Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby, who lead the pack with seven nominations apiece, as well as Diamond Platnumz as the only East African artiste to be nominated.
In 2014 and 2016, Diamond Platnumz was nominated in the Best International Acts Africa category, though he did not make it to the winners’ list.
Rayvanny was the first artist from Tanzania to win a BET Award after winning the BET Viewers’ Choice Award for Best New International Act in 2017.
As a result, Rayvanny became the second East African artiste to win a BET Award, after Eddy Kenzo won the 2015 International Viewers Award.
Diamond Platnumz will compete in the Best International Act category against Aya Nakamura from France, Burna Boy and Wizkid from Nigeria, Emicida (Brazil), Headie One (UK), Young T & Bugsey (UK) and Youssoupha (France).
In the past two years, Burna Boy won the award and Wizkid won in 2012 when this category consisted of two divisions for Africa and the United Kingdom. At the 2021 Grammy Awards, Wizkid and Burna Boy won Best Music Video and Best Global Music Album, respectively.
As part of the 2020 BET HER Awards, Wizkid also won for “Brown Skin Girl.”
Black excellence is celebrated in 21 categories across music, television, film, and sports, celebrating the current and future of black music, elevating culture and influencing social change.
Connie Orlando, executive vice president of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET Networks, said, “We’re ecstatic to bring the culture’s biggest night to Los Angeles in 2021 to celebrate this year’s amazing lineup of nominees.”
”With the return of an audience to celebrate the best and brightest creative minds in entertainment, we are ready to move on from our pioneer status and to continue our pioneering work.”
”With the return of an audience, we are ready to elevate our pioneer status to the next level by celebrating the best and brightest creative minds across the entertainment industry.”
BET will broadcast the 2021 BET Awards live on Sunday, June 27 at 8 PM ET/PT. Last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a virtual event.
Here is the complete list of nominees for the BET Awards 2021.
Album of the Year
- After Hours – the Weeknd
- Blame It on Baby – Dababy
- Good News – Megan Thee Stallion
- Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
- King’s Disease – Nas
- Ungodly Hour – Chloe X Halle
Best Collaboration
- Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – Wap
- Dababy Ft. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar
- Dj Khaled Ft. Drake – Popstar
- Jack Harlow Ft. Dababy, Tory Lanez & Lil Wayne – Whats Poppin (Remix)
- Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Dababy – Cry Baby
- Pop Smoke Ft. Lil Baby & Dababy – for the Night
Best Female R&B / Pop Artist
- Beyoncé
- H.E.R.
- Jazmine Sullivan
- Jhené Aiko
- Summer Walker
- Sza
Best Male R&B / Pop Artist
- 6lack
- Anderson .Paak
- Chris Brown
- Giveon
- Tank
- The Weeknd
Best New Artist
- Coi Leray
- Flo Milli
- Giveon
- Jack Harlow
- Latto
- Pooh Shiesty
Best Group
- 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
- Chloe X Halle
- Chris Brown & Young Thug
- City Girls
- Migos
- Silk Sonic
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Coi Leray
- Doja Cat
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Latto
- Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- Dababy
- Drake
- Cole
- Jack Harlow
- Lil Baby
- Pop Smoke
Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- Bebe Winans – in Jesus Name
- Cece Winans – Never Lost
- H.E.R. – Hold Us Together
- Kirk Franklin – Strong God
- Marvin Sapp – Thank You for It All
- Tamela Mann – Touch from You
Bet Her Award
- Alicia Keys Ft. Khalid – so Done
- Brandy Ft. Chance the Rapper – Baby Mama
- Bri Steves – Anti Queen
- Chloe X Halle – Baby Girl
- Ciara Ft. Ester Dean – Rooted
- Sza – Good Days
Best International Act
- Aya Nakamura (France)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Emicida (Brazil)
- Headie One (UK)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Young T & Bugsey (UK)
- Youssoupha (France)
Viewer’s Choice Award
- Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – Wap
- Chris Brown & Young Thug – Go Crazy
- Dababy Ft. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar
- Dj Khaled Ft. Drake – Popstar
- Drake Ft. Lil Durk – Laugh Now Cry Later
- Lil Baby – the Bigger Picture
- Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Beyoncé – Savage (Remix)
- Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open
Video of the Year
- Cardi B – Up
- Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – Wap
- Chloe X Halle – Do It
- Chris Brown & Young Thug – Go Crazy
- Drake Ft. Lil Durk – Laugh Now Cry Later
- Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open
Video Director of the Year
- Benny Boom
- Bruno Mars and Florent Déchard
- Cole Bennett
- Colin Tilley
- Dave Meyers
- Hype Williams
Best Movie
- Coming 2 America
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- One Night in Miami
- Soul
- The United States Vs. Billie Holiday
Best Actress
- Andra Day
- Angela Bassett
- Issa Rae
- Jurnee Smollett
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
Best Actor
- Aldis Hodge
- Chadwick Boseman
- Damson Idris
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Eddie Murphy
- Lakeith Stanfield
Youngstars Award
- Alex R. Hibbert
- Ethan Hutchison
- Lonnie Chavis
- Marsai Martin
- Michael Epps
- Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Candace Parker
- Claressa Shields
- Naomi Osaka
- Serena Williams
- Skylar Diggins-smith
Sportsman of the Year Award
- Kyrie Irving
- Lebron James
- Patrick Mahomes
- Russell Westbrook
- Russell Wilson
- Stephen Curry
