What you need to know about the new direct marketing guidance note
Nadine Mather and Chloë Loubser
Cassper Nyovest, Distruction Boyz to represent South Africa at BET Awards
The nominations for the BET Awards 2018 have been announced and five African artists are up for the accolade. The rapper Cassper Nyovest and Gqom evolutionists Distruction Boyz will represent South Africa in the Best International Act Award category, alongside Nigerian musicians Davido and Tiwa Savage and Congolese star Fally Ipupa.
Also included in the category are French performers Booba and Dadju and UK acts J Hus, Stefflon Don, and Stormzy.
In a BET Awards first, the top nominees from Africa and Europe (as voted for by an academy of industry experts) will now compete for the Best International Act category, with the winner being honoured as part of the US broadcast.
Alex Okosi, executive vice president and managing director at Viacom International Media Networks Africa and BET International said: “We are excited that the Best International Award will be presented on-stage during the live broadcast. The inclusion of the award in the main show signals the influence of international artists globally.”
DJ Khaled dominates this year’s nominations with a total of six including Video of the Year, two for Best Collaboration with Rihanna and Bryson Tiller for Wild Thoughts and with Beyoncé and Jay-Z for Top Off, Album of the Year, and the Coca-Cola Viewer’s Choice. Kendrick Lamar follows with five nods including Best Collaboration with Rihanna for Loyalty, Video of the Year, Album of the Year, and Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice. Other leading nominees include Migos, nominated for four awards including Best Group, and Album of the Year; and SZA also nominated for four awards, including Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Best New Artist.
Fans will be able to cast their vote for their favourite Best International Act nominees on BET.com and on both Twitter and Instagram using each artist’s designated hashtag.
The broadcast is expected to continue to tackle culturally relevant topics and conversations. In 2017, Bruno Mars opened the show with a funky, energetic performance of his hit Perm, then returned to the stage moments later to accept his first-ever BET Awards win for Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, XSCAPE reunited for the first time in 18 years to perform a medley of hits, Yara Shahidi voiced the importance of supporting blackness and thanked BET for celebrating black culture so beautifully while accepting the Young Stars Award, and Michelle Obama and BET Chairman Debra Lee introduced Chance the Rapper who gave an impassioned speech after receiving the evening’s Humanitarian Award.
