Lagos| Nigeria: BET Africa, part of Viacom’s African multimedia entertainment portfolio, today announced the nominations for the 2016 “BET Awards” taking place at Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, on Sunday 26 June, and premiering across Africa on BET (DStv channel 129) on Tuesday 28 June at 7PM. Recognising the growing international appeal of African contemporary artists, eight African artists have been honoured in the BET Awards. Leading the charge for South African music are hip hop giants AKA and Cassper Nyovest and dance/house legend Black Coffee, while Nigeria is represented by Wizkid (winner of the award in 2012) and Afro-pop diva, Yemi Alade. East African sensation Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Ghana’s dancehall/R&B queen Mzvee and Cote D’Ivoire’s Coupé Decalé star Serge Beynaud round out the nominees for Africa. Drake leads the list of entertainers nominated at this year’s awards with an impressive nine nominations including “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”, “Video of Year”, and “Best Collaboration” for his hit “Where Ya At” with fellow hip hop artist Future. Beyoncé and Rihanna follow with five nods each with Beyoncé scoring nominations in “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist”, “Video of the Year”, and “Best Collaboration” for “Feeling Myself” with Nicki Minaj. Rihanna is in the running for awards including “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist”, “Video of the Year” and “Best Collaboration” for “Work” featuring Drake. Other nominees include newcomer Bryson Tiller who is up for four awards including “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist”, while Chris Brown is also nominated in four categories including “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist” and “Video Director of the Year”. Future could also walk away with four awards, including one for “Best Male Hip Hop Artist”. Created in 2001, the BET Awards recognizes artists, entertainers, athletes and philanthropists across 20+ categories (nominees in further categories including “Best New Act: Viewer’s Choice”, and “Global Good” to be revealed at a later date). This year’s broadcast celebrates 16 years of spectacular BET Awards performances, must-see moments, outstanding talent, and exquisite music, which has set the standard for music awards with highlights such as Alicia Keys performing during the Prince “Lifetime Achievement Award” tribute (2010) and Michael Jackson taking the stage with James Brown (2003), to Beyoncé performing a lap dance for Terrence Howard (2005) and the reuniting of The Fugees (2005). “Now in its sixteenth year, the BET Awards continues to honour some of today’s biggest names in music and entertainment along with legends in the industry,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming. “The nominees this year represent an incredible array of artists and exceptional athletes who inspire their fans around the globe.” The complete list of nominees for the 2016 “BET Awards” are: Best International Act: Africa AKA (SOUTH AFRICA) BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA) CASSPER NYOVEST (SOUTH AFRICA) DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) MZVEE (Ghana) SERGE BEYNAUD (COTE D’IVOIRE) WIZKID (NIGERIA) YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA) Best Female R&B/Pop Artist ADELE ANDRA DAY BEYONCÉ K. MICHELLE RIHANNA Best Male R&B/Pop Artist BRYSON TILLER CHRIS BROWN JEREMIH THE WEEKND TYRESE Best Group 2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE DRAKE & FUTURE PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY RAE SREMMURD THE INTERNET Best Collaboration BIG SEAN FT. CHRIS BROWN & TY DOLLA $IGN – PLAY NO GAMES BIG SEAN FT. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGEND – ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT NICKI MINAJ FT. BEYONCÉ – FEELING MYSELF RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK Best Male Hip Hop Artist DRAKE FETTY WAP FUTURE J. COLE KANYE WEST KENDRICK LAMAR Best Female Hip Hop Artist DEJ LOAF LIL KIM MISSY ELLIOTT NICKI MINAJ REMY MA Video of the Year BEYONCÉ – FORMATION BRYSON TILLER – DON’T DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING KENDRICK LAMAR – ALRIGHT RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK Video Director of the Year BENNY BOOM CHRIS BROWN COLIN TILLEY & THE LITTLE HOMIES DIRECTOR X HYPE WILLIAMS Best New Artist ALESSIA CARA ANDRA DAY BRYSON TILLER KEHLANI TORY LANEZ Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY ERICA CAMPBELL KIRK FRANKLIN LECRAE TAMELA MANN TASHA COBBS Best Actress GABRIELLE UNION KERRY WASHINGTON TARAJI P. HENSON TRACEE ELLIS ROSS VIOLA DAVIS Best Actor ANTHONY ANDERSON COURTNEY B. VANCE IDRIS ELBA MICHAEL B. JORDAN O’SHEA JACKSON JR. YoungStars Award AMANDLA STENBERG QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS SILENTÓ WILLOW SMITH YARA SHAHIDI Best Movie BEASTS OF NO NATION CONCUSSION CREED DOPE STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON Subway Sportswoman of the Year CHEYENNE WOODS GABRIELLE DOUGLAS SERENA WILLIAMS SKYLAR DIGGINS VENUS WILLIAMS Subway Sportsman of the Year CAM NEWTON KOBE BRYANT LEBRON JAMES ODELL BECKHAM JR. STEPHEN CURRY Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award BEYONCÉ – FORMATION BRYSON TILLER – DON’T CHRIS BROWN – BACK TO SLEEP DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK Centric Award ANDRA DAY – RISE UP BEYONCÉ – FORMATION K. MICHELLE – NOT A LITTLE BIT RIHANNA – BBHMM THE INTERNET – UNDER CONTROL Best International Act UK KANO KREPT & KONAN LIANNE LA HAVAS SKEPTA STORMZY TINIE TEMPAH To vote for your favourite artist, please go www.betafrica.tv from 20 May to 2 June 2016. For more information on the BET Awards, visit www.betafrica.tv, like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BETinAfrica, or join the conversation about the channel on Twitter and Instagram @BET_Africa using the hashtag #BETAwards16