Tyla, Burna Boy, Tems, Ayra Starr & More Nominated for 2024 BET Awards

The BET Awards have announced the nominees for this year’s edition. Billed as “culture’s biggest night,” over the years the BET has become a prime destination for rewarding Black excellence across music, television, film and sports. According to the BET website, “nominees were selected by the BET Voting Academy, which is comprised of an esteemed group of entertainment professionals and influencers in the fields of music, media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations and creative arts.”

South African breakout star Tyla leads the African contingent this year, getting four nominations for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, Viewer’s Choice Award and Best International Act.

Continuing the African representation on the list with multiple nominations are Burna Boy (Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Best Male Hip Hop Artist), Ayra Starr (Best New Artist, Best International Act, and the BET Her award), and Tems (Video Director of the Year and Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award).

Makhadzi, Seyi Vibez, Asake and Focalistic were also nominated in different categories like Best International Act and Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act.

In the movie categories, international-based Nigerians Damson Idris and Ayo Edebiri were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.

Over the years, African artists have laid a strong claim to the BET Awards, winning in important categories such as Best International Act and Best New Artist. Between 2019 and 2021, Nigerian star Burna Boy won the Best International Act three times, followed in 2022 by compatriot Tems. Last year’s award also went to Burna Boy.

This year’s award casts a wider net over the thriving sphere of African music, combining regulars such as Burna Boy with the relatively new Tyla. Surely, with this level of inclusivity, a lot of eyes would be on the African nominees going into the awards night.

The event will air live on Sunday, June 30, at 8PM ET/PT on the BET channel. Voting for the Viewer’s Choice Awards is expected to commence on June 6 and end on June 30, at 6:30PM PT/ 9:30PM ET.

Check out a list of select nominees below or the full list here.

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

• Beyonce
• Coco Jones
• Doja Cat
• H.E.R
• Muni Long
• SZA
• Tyla

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

• Brent Faiyaz
• Bryson Tiller
• Burna Boy
• Chris Brown
• Drake
• Fridayy
• October London
• Usher

BEST MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

• 21 Savage
• Burna Boy
• Drake
• Future
• Gunna
• J. Cole
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lil Wayne

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Benny Boom
• Child.
• Cole Bennett
• Dave Meyers
• Janelle Monae & Alan Ferguson
• Offset
• Tems

BEST NEW ARTIST

• 41
• 4BATZ
• Ayra Starr
• Bossman Dlow
• Fridayy
• October London
• Sexxy Red
• Tyla

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

• Doja Cat “Agora Hills”
• Lil Durk feat. J.Cole “All My Life”
• Gunna “Fukumean”
• Jack Harlow “Lovin On Me”
• Muni Long “Made For Me”
• Victoria Monet “On My Mama”
• Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA “Rich Baby Daddy”
• Beyonce “Texas Hold Em”
• Tyla “Water”

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

• Asake
• Aya Nakamura
• Ayra Starr
• BK’
• Cleo Sol
• Focalistic
• Karol Conka
• Raye
• Tiakola
• Tyla

VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

• Bellah
• Cristale
• Duquesa
• Holly G
• Jungeli
• Makhadzi
• Oruam
• Seyi Vibez
• Tyler ICU

BEST ACTOR

• Anthony Mackie
• Colman Domingo
• Damson Idris
• Denzel Washington
• Donald Glover
• Idris Elba
• Jeffrey Wright
• Lakeith Stanfield

BEST ACTRESS

• Angela Bassett
• Ayo Edebiri
• Coco Jones
• Danielle Brooks
• Fantasia
• Halle Berry
• Issa Rae

• Regina King