Burna Boy and Tems shine at BET Awards 2023

Burna Boy secured the Best International Act Award, outshining fellow Africans Ayra Starr, K.O, and Uncle Waffles. This marks Burna Boy’s fourth win in the category, having previously claimed the title in 2019, 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Tems took home the award.

Tems, who won the Best Collaboration award last year for her contribution to Wizkid’s remix of ‘Essence’ featuring Justin Bieber, once again emerged victorious in the same category. This time, she was recognised for her appearance on Future’s ‘Wait for U’ featuring Drake.

Libianca emerged as the winner of the Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act Award after surpassing Asake (Nigeria), Camidoh (Ghana), Flo (UK), Maureen (France), MC Ryan SP (Brazil), Pabi Cooper (South Africa), Raye (UK) and Werenoi (France).

Five years after winning Best International Act, Davido returned to the BET stage, treating the audience to a medley of his singles ‘Feel’ and ‘Unavailable’, taken off his recently released album Timeless. 

Meanwhile, SZA and Beyoncé emerged as the big winners on the night, each taking home three awards each, including tying for the highly coveted Album of the Year Award.

Below is the full list of winners: 

Best International Act

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Central Cee (UK)
• Ella Mai (UK)
• K.O (South Africa)
• L7nnon (Brazil)
• Stormzy (UK)
• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
• Aya Nakamura (France)
• Tiakola (France) 

Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act

• Asake (Nigeria)
• Camidoh (Ghana)
• Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
• Libianca (Cameroon)
• Maureen (France)
• MC Ryan SP (Brazil)
• Flo (UK)
• Raye (UK)
• Werenoi (France) 

Best Collaboration

• ‘Call Me Every Day’ by Chris Brown ft. Wizkid
• ‘Wait For U’ by Future Feat. Drake & Tems
• ‘Big Energy (Remix) by Latto & Mariah Carey ft. DJ Khaled
• ‘Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2’ by Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
• ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ by King Combs ft. Kodak Black
• ‘Creepin’ by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
• ‘F.N.F. (Let’s Go)’ by Hitkidd & Glorilla
• ‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B

Viewer’s Choice Award

• ‘Wait For U’ by Future ft. Drake & Tems
• ‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy
• ‘Break My Soul’ by Beyoncé
• ‘Jimmy Cooks’ by Drake ft. 21 Savage
• ‘Kill Bill’ by SZA
• ‘First Class’ by Jack Harlow
• ‘Super Freaky Girl’ by Nicki Minaj
• ‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo 

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

• Tems
• Ari Lennox
• Beyoncé
• Coco Jones
• H.E.R.
• Lizzo
• SZA

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

• Burna Boy
• Blxst
• Brent Faiyaz
• Chris Brown
• Drake
• The Weeknd
• Usher

Best Group

• City Girls
• Drake & 21 Savage
• Dvsn
• Flo
• Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
• Quavo & Takeoff
• Wanmor

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Cardi B
• Coi Leray
• Glorilla
• Ice Spice
• Latto
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Nicki Minaj

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• 21 Savage
• Drake
• Future
• J. Cole
• Jack Harlow
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lil Baby

Video of the Year

• ‘We (Warm Embrace)’ by Chris Brown
• ‘2 Million Up’ by Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey ft. Rob49
• ‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo
• ‘Bad Habit’ by Steve Lacy
• ‘First Class’ by Jack Harlow
• ‘Kill Bill’ by SZA
• ‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B

Video Director of the Year

• Burna Boy
• A$Ap Rocky For Awge
• Benny Boom
• Cole Bennett
• Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
• Director X
• Teyana ‘Spike Tey’ Taylor

Best New Artist

• Ambré
• Coco Jones
• Doechii
• Flo
• Glorilla
• Ice Spice
• Lola Brooke

Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

• ‘Bless Me’ by Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
• ‘Finished (Live)’ by Tamela Mann
• ‘I’ve Got Joy’ by Cece Winans
• ‘Kingdom’ by Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin ft. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
• ‘New’ by Tye Tribbett
• ‘One Moment From Glory’ by Yolanda Adams
• ‘The Better Benediction (Pt.2)’ by PJ Morton ft. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard

BET HER

• ‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo
• ‘Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2’ by Pinkpantheress, Ice Spice
• ‘Break My Soul’ by Beyoncé
• ‘Her’ by Megan Thee Stallion
• ‘Lift Me Up’ by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever  – music from and inspired – by  Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
• ‘Players’ by Coi Leray
• ‘Special’ by Lizzo

Album of the Year

• Anyways, Life’s Great by Glorilla
• Breezy by Chris Brown
• God Did by DJ Khaled
• Her Loss by Drake & 21 Savage
• Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar
• Renaissance by Beyoncé
• SOS by SZA

Best Movie

• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Creed 3
• Emancipation
• Nope
• The Woman King
• Till
• Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Best Actor

• Amin Joseph
• Brian Tyree Henry
• Damson Idris
• Daniel Kaluuya
• Demetrius ‘lil Meech’ Flenory Jr.
• Donald Glover
• Michael B. Jordan

Best Actress

• Angela Bassett
• Coco Jones
• Janelle James
• Janelle Monáe
• Keke Palmer
• Viola Davis
• Zendaya

Youngstars Award

• Akira Akbar
• Alaya High
• Demi Singleton
• Genesis Denise
• Marsai Martin
• Thaddeus J. Mixson
• Dylan Gilmer

Sportswoman of the Year

• Alexis Morris
• Allyson Felix
• Angel Reese
• Candace Parker
• Naomi Osaka
• Serena Williams
• Sha’carri Richardson

Sportsman of the Year

• Aaron Judge
• Bubba Wallace
• Gervonta Davis
• Jalen Hurts
• Lebron James
• Patrick Mahomes
• Stephen Curry