African stars triumph at MTV Europe Music Awards 2023

Rema became the first winner of the newly-introduced Best Afrobeats category, besting fellow African nominees including Nigeria’s Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido and French-Malian act Aya Nakamura. 

Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ with US pop singer Selena Gomez was also nominated in the ‘Best Song’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ categories, but lost. 

On his part, Diamond Platnumz was adjudged the Best African Act over Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Asake, Cameroon’s Libianca, and South Africa’s Tyla ICU. 

The 2023 MTV EMAs had been scheduled for Paris, France and would have aired live in more than 150 countries. However, on 19 October MTV released a statement cancelling the ceremony, citing “the volatility of world events” in light of the war between Israel and Palestine. 

The statement added: “As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.”

On 5 November, the company released the list of winners, explaining that “as fans worldwide voted for their favourite categories including best artist, best song and more, MTV is recognising the following artists with 2023 MTV EMAs.”

US singer Taylor Swift was this year’s biggest winner, taking home the awards for Best Artist, Best Live and Best Video.

Below is the full list of winners:

Best Afrobeats

• Asake
• Aya Nakamura
• Ayra Starr
• Burna Boy
• Davido
• Rema

Best African Act

• Diamond Platnumz
• Asake
• Burna Boy
• Libianca
• Tyler ICU

Best Song

• Doja Cat – 'Paint the Town Red'
• Jung Kook feat. Latto – 'Seven'
• Miley Cyrus – 'Flowers'
• Olivia Rodrigo – 'vampire'
• SZA – 'Kill Bill'
• Taylor Swift – 'Anti-Hero'
• Rema, Selena Gomez – 'Calm Down'

Best Video

• Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion – 'Bongos'
• Doja Cat – 'Paint The Town Red'
• Little Simz – 'Gorilla'
• Miley Cyrus – 'Flowers'
• Olivia Rodrigo – 'vampire'
• SZA – 'Kill Bill'
• Taylor Swift – 'Anti-Hero'

Best Artist

• Doja Cat
• Miley Cyrus
• Nicki Minaj
• Olivia Rodrigo
• SZA
• Taylor Swift

Best Collaboration

• Central Cee x Dave – 'Sprinter'
• David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray – 'Baby Don’t Hurt Me'
• KAROL G, Shakira – 'TQG'
• Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage – 'Creepin’'
• PinkPantheress, Ice Spice – 'Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2'
• Rema, Selena Gomez – 'Calm Down'

Best New

• Coi Leray
• FLO
• Ice Spice
• Peso Pluma
• PinkPantheress
• Reneé Rapp

Best Pop

• Billie Eilish
• Dua Lipa
• Ed Sheeran
• Miley Cyrus
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Taylor Swift

Best Rock

• Arctic Monkeys
• Foo Fighters
• Måneskin
• Metallica
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Killers

Best Latin

• Anitta
• Bad Bunny
• KAROL G
• Peso Pluma
• ROSALÍA
• Shakira

Best K-pop

• Jung Kook
• FIFTY FIFTY
• NewJeans
• SEVENTEEN
• Stray Kids
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Best Alternative

• Lana Del Rey
• Blur
• Fall Out Boy
• Paramore
• Thirty Seconds to Mars
• YUNGBLUD

Best Electronic

• David Guetta
• Alesso
• Calvin Harris
• Swedish House Mafia
• Peggy Gou
• Tiësto

Best Hip Hop

• Nicki Minaj
• Cardi B
• Central Cee
• Lil Wayne
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Metro Boomin
• Travis Scott

Best R&B

• Chris Brown
• Chlöe
• Steve Lacy
• Summer Walker
• SZA
• Usher

Best Live

• Taylor Swift
• Beyoncé
• Burna Boy
• Ed Sheeran
• Måneskin
• SZA
• The Weeknd

Best Push

• TOMORROW X TOGETHER
• November 2022: Flo Milli
• December 2022: Reneé Rapp
• January 2023: Sam Ryder
• February 2023: Armani White
• March 2023: FLETCHER
• April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER
• May 2023: Ice Spice
• June 2023: FLO
• July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith
• August 2023: Kaliii
• September 2023: GloRilla
• October 2023: Benson Boone

Best Asia Act

• BE:FIRST
• BRIGHT
• Moria
• Tiara Andini
• TREASURE

Best Australian Act

• Kylie Minogue
• Budjerah
• G Flip
• The Kid LAROI
• Troye Sivan

Best Brazilian Act

• Matuê
• Anavitoria
• Kevin O Chris
• Luisa Sonza
• Manu Gavassi

Best Canadian Act

• Shania Twain
• Charlotte Cardin
• Drake
• Jamie Fine
• The Beaches

Best Caribbean Act

• Young Miko
• Eladio Carrion
• Mora
• Myke Towers
• Rauw Alejandro

Best Dutch Act

• FLEMMING
• Idaly
• Kriss Kross Amsterdam
• S10
• Zoë Tauran

Best French Act

• Bigflo & Oli
• Aime Simone
• Aya Nakamura
• Louane

Best German Act

• Kontra K
• Apache 207
• AYLIVA
• Luciano
• Nina Chuba
• Ski Aggu

Best Hungarian Act

• ajsa luna
• Analog Balaton
• Beton.Hofi
• Co Lee
• Hundred Sins

Best India Act

• Tsumyoki
• Dee MC
• DIVINE
• Mali
• When Chai Met Toast

Best Italian Act

• Måneskin
• Annalisa
• Elodie
• Lazza
• The Kolors

Best Israeli Act

• Nunu
• Anna Zak
• Liad Meir
• Noa Kirel
• Shira Margalit

Best Latin America North Act

• Kenia Os
• Danna Paola
• Kevin Kaarl
• Siddhartha
• Natanael Cano

Best Latin America Central Act

• Feid
• Blessd
• Manuel Turizo
• Ryan Castro
• Sebastian Yatra

Best Latin America South Act

• Lali
• Bizarrap
• Duki
• Fito Paez
• Nicki Nicole

Best New Zealand Act

• SIX60
• BENEE
• JessB
• Jolyon Petch
• L.A.B.

Best Nordic Act

• Käärijä
• Alessandra
• Loreen
• Swedish House Mafia
• Zara Larsson

Best Polish Act

• Doda
• Kasia Nosowska
• Mrozu
• Sanah
• Vito Bambino

Best Portuguese Act

• Bispo
• Bárbara Bandeira
• Carolina Deslandes
• Marisa Liz
• PIRUKA

Best Spanish Act

• Samantha Hudson
• Abraham Mateo
• Álvaro de Luna
• Lola Índigo
• Quevedo

Best Swiss Act

• Gjon’s Tears
• Danitsa
• KT Gorique
• Monet192
• Stress

Best UK & Ireland Act

• Tom Grennan
• Calvin Harris
• Central Cee
• PinkPantheress
• Raye
• Sam Smith

Best US Act

• Nicki Minaj
• Doja Cat
• Olivia Rodrigo
• SZA
• Taylor Swift