Nigerian star bags BET award

The BET Awards took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night, with Nigeria's music sensation, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, bagging the award for the Best International Act (Africa). Wizkid won the prestigious award alongside his Ghanaian counterpart, Sardokie. The two artistes had been tipped favourites to win the award in a category which also had great artistes such as Africa Camp Mulla (Kenya), Ice Prince (Nigeria), Lira (South Africa), Mokobe (Mali). This is the second major international award being won by Wizkid, after he won the award for Best African Act at the 2011 edition of the MOBO Awards! It will be recalled that 2Face and D'Banj jointly won the BET awards in 2011. Other big winners of the night included Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, and, of course, Jay-Z and his wife Beyoncé. The show which was anchored by veteran movie star, Samuel L. Jackson, kicked off with a Kanye-induced bang as the rapper, decked in all-white, joined 2 Chainz and eventual Best New Artist winner, Big Sean, to perform their rap hit “Mercy”. Other performances at the event came from the likes of Usher, Nicki Minaj, Melanie Fiona, D’angelo(!), Rick Ross and his on-fire Maybach Music Group, and Chris Brown. The night also featured an extensive Whitney Houston tribute, which brought out a long list of guests to commemorate the late singer, including: Monica, Brandy (who sang “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”), Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston (singing “Bridge Over Troubled Water”), and none other than Chaka Khan, who performed “I’m Every Woman”. Below is the list of winners: Best Female R&B Artist Beyoncé ‪ Best Male R&B Artist Chris Brown Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Drake Best Female Hip-Hop Artist Nicki Minaj Best Group The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) Best New Artist Big Sean Best Collaboration Wale f/ Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb” Video of the Year The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – “Otis” Video Director of the Year Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson Best Gospel Yolanda Adams YoungStars Award Diggy Viewers’ Choice Award Mindless Behavior – “Hello” Centric Award Common Best International Act: U.K. Wretch 32 Best International Act: Africa Sarkodie (Ghana) Wizkid (Nigeria) Best Actress Viola Davis Best Actor Kevin Hart Best Movie The Help Sportswoman of the Year Serena Williams Sportsman of the Year Kevin Durant AOL Fandemonium Award Chris Brown