AFRICA · MUSIC
Key Facts
—The field. African musicians are again at the centre of the BET Awards, with a wave of Afrobeats and African pop nominees in 2026.
—The names. Nigeria’s Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asake and Tems earned nods, as did South Africa’s Tyla.
—Tems. She picked up three nominations, spanning a leading female category, the BET Her Award and the Viewer’s Choice Award.
—A first. Wizkid and Asake share a Best Group nomination, among the first contemporary African artists recognised there.
—Tyla. Her single Chanel earned nods for Video of the Year and the Viewer’s Choice Award.
—The date. The ceremony takes place on June 28 in Los Angeles, hosted by the comedian Druski.
African artists are flying the flag at the BET Awards 2026, with Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Wizkid, Asake and Tems and South Africa’s Tyla all nominated ahead of the June 28 ceremony in Los Angeles, another sign that the continent’s music now sits at the heart of the global mainstream.
BET Awards 2026: African artists lead the field
African musicians are once again at the centre of the BET Awards. The 2026 nominations feature a wave of Afrobeats and African pop stars.
Nigeria’s Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asake and Tems all earned nods. South Africa’s Tyla joined them in the global categories.
The ceremony takes place on June 28 in Los Angeles, hosted by the comedian Druski. For African music, it is another night on the world’s biggest stages.
Tems and a standout haul
Tems emerged as one of the continent’s most-nominated artists this year. She picked up three nominations.
They span a leading female R&B and pop category, the BET Her Award for her song “First”, and the Viewer’s Choice Award for “Raindrop”, her collaboration with Dave.
The spread shows her reach across categories, from solo work to high-profile features.
A first for Wizkid and Asake
Wizkid and Asake share a nomination in the Best Group category for their joint project. It marks a milestone.
They are recognised as among the first contemporary African artists in that category. Group recognition has long been rare for the continent’s stars.
Burna Boy, meanwhile, earned a Best Collaboration nod for his appearance on Gunna’s track. His global features keep him in the conversation.
Tyla flies South Africa’s flag
Tyla has carried South African pop onto the global stage with remarkable speed. Her single “Chanel” earned nominations in two marquee categories.
They include Video of the Year and the Viewer’s Choice Award. Both put her alongside the biggest names in the room.
Her rise underlines that the African surge is not Afrobeats alone. It runs from Lagos to Johannesburg.
Why the nominations matter
The BET Awards are an American show, but they have become a barometer for African music’s global pull. Nominations translate into streams, bookings and deals.
A strong field signals that African sounds are now fixtures of the mainstream, not novelties. The pipeline of talent keeps widening.
The night itself, on June 28, will tell who converts nominations into trophies. Either way, the flag is flying.
Afrobeats goes global
The nominations cap a decade of African music breaking out. Afrobeats, amapiano and African R&B now fill playlists worldwide.
Streaming erased the old barriers of distance and distribution. A song made in Lagos can top charts continents away.
Award shows have followed the audience. Recognition at the BET Awards is both a reward and a signal of reach.
The continent’s artists are no longer guests at the global table. They headline festivals and sell out arenas abroad.
Their sound has become part of the mainstream.
What recognition unlocks
A nomination is more than a trophy chase. It lifts an artist’s profile and bargaining power.
Bookings, brand deals and festival slots tend to follow the spotlight. The business of music rewards visibility.
For African artists, that can mean bigger tours and better terms. Success abroad feeds investment back home.
The June 28 ceremony is one more rung on that ladder. Win or lose, the nominations widen the door.
More will walk through it next year.
A continent on the world stage
The 2026 field is part of a broader cultural shift. African creativity, from music to film and fashion, is claiming global attention.
Each award season now features African names as contenders, not curiosities. That change has been swift and decisive.
It also feeds a sense of possibility at home. Young artists see a path that did not exist a decade ago.
The industry around them, from labels to managers, is maturing fast. Success is becoming repeatable, not accidental.
The BET nominations are a snapshot of that momentum.
More: Nigeria news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 BET Awards?
June 28, 2026, in Los Angeles, hosted by the comedian Druski.
Which African artists are nominated?
Nigeria’s Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asake and Tems, and South Africa’s Tyla, among others.
How many nominations does Tems have?
Three, including a leading female category, the BET Her Award for her song First, and the Viewer’s Choice Award for Raindrop with Dave.
Why are Wizkid and Asake’s nominations notable?
Their joint nod in the Best Group category makes them among the first contemporary African artists recognised there.
Why do the nominations matter?
They show African music as a fixture of the global mainstream, translating into streams, bookings and deals.
Connected Coverage
African music keeps winning global stages. See more from the Western Africa desk and our culture coverage, including Mawazine, the worlds biggest free music festival and the National Arts Festival in Makhanda.
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