Tems before getting an award for her own record had already picked one for a song by Wizkid, which featured her and Justin Bieber
By Mosope Okeowo
Fast-rising Nigerian music talent, Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has won the Best International Act at the 2022 BET Awards, held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, United States on Sunday, June 26.
The show, hosted by Taraji P. Henson for the second year in a row, saw the songwriter nominated alongside her compatriot, Fireboy DML, Dave from the UK, Dinos from France, Fally Ipupa from Congo, Little Simz from the UK, Ludmilla from Brazil, Major League Djz from South Africa, and Tayc from France.
The event billed as “culture’s biggest night” is the first international award Tems is receiving for her own record after winning an award in the Best Collaboration category for featuring in Wizkid’s song alongside Justin Bieber.
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In her speech after winning, Tems dedicated the award to every young woman in the world striving to be like her, she also asserted that it was the first recognition of her individual effort.
“Thank you so much for this, thank you so much. It’s an honour… I mean, this is my first award show that I’m winning something and I just want to use this as an opportunity to speak to every single young, old, whatever, every single woman watching this, every single girl watching this at home. Where I’m from, things like this don’t happen.” she said.
The BET Awards is usually held annually to celebrate Black excellence in music, culture, and sports.
A full list of nominees is as follows, while the categories and winners that were announced are indicated in bold.
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Chlöe
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan *WINNER
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker
Best male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Chris Brown
Giveon
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd *WINNER
Wizkid
Yung Bleu
Best Group
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) *WINNER
Chlöe X Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Young Dolph & Key Glock
Best Collaboration
Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems – “Essence” *WINNER
DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk – “Every Chance I Get”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties
Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Bia feat. Nicki Minaj – “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion *WINNER
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar *WINNER
Lil Baby
Video of the Year
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”
Chlöe – “Have Mercy”
Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Ari Lennox – “Pressure”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – “Smokin Out The Window” *WINNER
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Video Director of the Year
Anderson Paak a.k.a. Director Paak *WINNER
Benny Boom
Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott
Best New Artist
Baby Keem
Benny the Butcher
Latto *WINNER
Muni Long
Tems
Yung Bleu
Album of the Year
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – “An Evening with Silk Sonic” *WINNER
H.E.R. – “Back of My Mind”
Tyler, the Creator – “Call Me If You Get Lost”
Drake – “Certified Lover Boy”
Kanye West – “Donda”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe”
Doja Cat – “Planet Her”
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Marvin Sapp – “All In Your Hands”
Kanye West – “Come to Life”
Kelly Price – “Grace”
Fred Hammond – “Hallelujah”
H.E.R. & Tauren Wells – “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)”
Election Worship & Maverick City Music – “Jireh”
Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin – “We Win” *WINNER
BET Her
Alicia Keys – “Best of Me (Originals)”
Mary J. Blige – “Good Morning Gorgeous” *WINNER
Chlöe – “Have Mercy”
Ari Lennox – “Pressure”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Roster”
Summer Walker & Ari Lennox – “Unloyal”
Doja Cat – “Woman”
Best International Act
Dave (UK)
Dinos (France)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
Little Simz (UK)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Major League DJZ (South Africa)
Tayc (France)
Tems (Nigeria) *WINNER
Best Movie
“Candyman”
“King Richard” *WINNER
“Respect”
“Space Jam: A New Legacy”
“Summer of Soul”
“The Harder They Fall”
Best Actor
Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air”
Anthony Anderson – “Black-ish”
Damson Idris – “Snowfall”
Denzel Washington – “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Forest Whitaker – “Respect” / “Godfather of Harlem”
Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air”
Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us”
Will Smith – “King Richard” *WINNER
Best Actress
Aunjanue Ellis – “King Richard”
Coco Jones – “Bel-Air”
Issa Rae – “Insecure”
Jennifer Hudson – “Respect”
Mary J. Blige – “Power Book II: Ghost”
Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer”
Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary”
Regina King – “The Harder They Fal”
Zendaya – “Euphoria” / “Spider-Man: No Way Home” *WINNER
Youngstars Award
Akira Akbar
Demi Singleton
Miles Brown
Saniyya Sidney
Storm Reid
Marsai Martin *WINNER
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka *WINNER
Serena Williams
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Donald
Bubba Wallace
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ja Morant
LeBron James
Stephen Curry *WINNER
