Nigeria’s Afro-fusion superstar Burna Boy has won the 2020 BET award for the Best International Act for the second consecutive year.
The Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards’ 20th ceremony was held virtually in Los Angeles due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It paid tribute to Kobe Bryant, Little Richard and was hosted by the comedienne Amanda Seals.
Burna Boy beat Rema, another Nigerian nominated in the same category, Sho Madjozi (South Africa), Innoss’B (DR Congo), Dave (UK), Stormzy (UK), S.Pri Noir (France) and Ninho (France) to claim the prize.
The award was enthusiastically announced and presented by Naomi Campbell. The ‘African Giant’ spoke on the development of the continent in his acceptance speech. “Second time and I appreciate it. I would like to use this opportunity to say that sometime around 1835, there was a mission to turn the nation of Africa into a dominated nation. Now is the time to overturn that and go back to the royalty that we were because in order for black lives to matter, Africa must matter.”
Burna Boy won the the award in the same category last year when his mother’s resounding acceptance speech on his behalf was applauded by music fans around the world.
Wizkid’s collaboration with Beyoncé, ‘Brown Skin Girl’ also won the Nigerian star an award in the BET Her Award Category, making history as the African artist with the most BET awards to his credit.