Hosted by Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor, filmmaker and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson, the “BET AWARDS” 2021 will air LIVE, Monday 28 June on BET Africa (DStv channel 129) at 1:00 WAT/02:00 CAT. You can also catch the repeat at 19:00 WAT/20:00 CAT on the same day from the Microsoft Theatre. The “BET AWARDS” 2021 will also be honouring award-winning musician, critically acclaimed Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor Queen Latifah with this year’s Lifetime Achievement BET Award.

Flying the African flag high at the “BET Awards” 2021 are African heavy weights Wizkid, Burnaboy (Nigeria) and Diamond Platinumz (Tanzania) scoring nominations in the Best International Act category and, Nigeria’s Tems and South Africa’s Elaine who clinched two spots in ‘BET Awards’ 2021 ‘Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act’ nominations.

Megan Thee Stallion joins the star-studded line-up of performers Andra Day, City Girls, DaBaby, DJ Khaled, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Kirk Franklin, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Nas X, Migos, Moneybagg Yo, Rapsody, Roddy Ricch, Tyler The Creator and many more. Additionally, up and coming artists Tone Stith and Mereba will be gracing the BET Amplified Stage, BET Music’s stamp of approval on the next big thing in music.

Dominating this year’s nominations are Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby with a total of seven nominations each. Cardi B and Drake follow closely behind with five nominations each. Other leading nominees include Anderson Paak, Bruno Mars, Chloe x Halle and Chris Brown, as each garnered four nominations. You can find a full list of nominations here.

‘BET Awards’ 2021 presenters include Ashanti, Chloe Bailey, Ciara, Crystal Renee Hayslett, DJ Cassidy, Ebony Obsidian, Eva Marcille, Issa Rae, Jill Scott, KJ Smith, Lena Waithe, Marsai Martin, Michelle Buteau, Michelle Mitchenor, Mignon, Mj Rodriguez, Naomi Campbell, Novi Brown, Regina Hall, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Saweetie, and Sevyn Streeter. Jennifer Hudson will also be making a special appearance at the award show.

Beloved rapper DMX will be honoured with a special tribute at the 2021 ‘BET Awards’. The tribute is being curated by producer Swizz Beatz and will include standout performances from Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Swizz Beatz, Griselda, and a special appearance by Michael K. Williams.

In celebration of the culture’s biggest night, DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic: BET Awards Edition will premiere on Monday, June 28th at 04:30 AM WAT/ 05:30 AM CAT, immediately following the 2021 “BET Awards.” In this edition of the acclaimed groundbreaking series, DJ Cassidy will pass the mic to a once-in-a-lifetime lineup of legendary Hip Hop and R&B artists to sing along to their most iconic, chart-topping records of the 2000s. Cassidy has exclusively confirmed that he will pass the mic to Ashanti, Ja Rule, Nelly, Akon, Kelis, Fat Joe, Fabolous, Sean Paul, and over a dozen other surprise iconic guests who have profoundly impacted the culture over the last two decades.

#BETAWARDS #CULTURESBIGGESTNIGHT #PASSTHEMICONBET

The previously announced nominees for the “BET AWARDS” 2021 are:

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

WIZKID (NIGERIA)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
AYA NAKAMURA (FRANCE)
DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)
EMICIDA (BRAZIL)
HEADIE ONE (UK)
YOUNG T & BUGSEY (UK)
YOUSSOUPHA (FRANCE)

BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

TEMS (NIGERIA)
ELAINE (SOUTH AFRICA)
ARLO PARKS (UK)
BRAMSITO (FRANCE)
BREE RUNWAY (UK)
MC DRICKA (BRAZIL)
RONISIA (FRANCE)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

AFTER HOURS – THE WEEKND
BLAME IT ON BABY – DABABY
GOOD NEWS – MEGAN THEE STALLION
HEAUX TALES – JAZMINE SULLIVAN
KING’S DISEASE – NAS
UNGODLY HOUR – CHLOE X HALLE

BEST COLLABORATION

CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP
DABABY FT. RODDY RICCH – ROCKSTAR
DJ KHALED FT. DRAKE – POPSTAR
JACK HARLOW FT. DABABY, TORY LANEZ & LIL WAYNE – WHATS POPPIN (REMIX)
MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. DABABY – CRY BABY
POP SMOKE FT. LIL BABY & DABABY – FOR THE NIGHT

BEST FEMALE R&B / POP ARTIST

BEYONCÉ
H.E.R.
JAZMINE SULLIVAN
JHENÉ AIKO
SUMMER WALKER
SZA

BEST MALE R&B / POP ARTIST

6LACK
ANDERSON. PAAK
CHRIS BROWN
GIVEON
TANK
THE WEEKND

BEST NEW ARTIST

COI LERAY
FLO MILLI
GIVEON
JACK HARLOW
LATTO
POOH SHIESTY

BEST GROUP

21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN
CHLOE X HALLE
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG
CITY GIRLS
MIGOS
SILK SONIC

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

CARDI B
COI LERAY
DOJA CAT
MEGAN THEE STALLION
LATTO
SAWEETIE

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

DABABY
DRAKE
J. COLE
JACK HARLOW
LIL BABY
POP SMOKE

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

BEBE WINANS – IN JESUS NAME
CECE WINANS – NEVER LOST
H.E.R. – HOLD US TOGETHER
KIRK FRANKLIN – STRONG GOD
MARVIN SAPP – THANK YOU FOR IT ALL
TAMELA MANN – TOUCH FROM YOU

BET HER AWARD

ALICIA KEYS FT. KHALID – SO DONE
BRANDY FT. CHANCE THE RAPPER – BABY MAMA
BRI STEVES – ANTI QUEEN
CHLOE X HALLE – BABY GIRL
CIARA FT. ESTER DEAN – ROOTED
SZA – GOOD DAYS

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG – GO CRAZY
DABABY FT. RODDY RICCH – ROCKSTAR
DJ KHALED FT. DRAKE – POPSTAR
DRAKE FT. LIL DURK – LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
LIL BABY – THE BIGGER PICTURE
MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. BEYONCÉ – SAVAGE (REMIX)
SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN      

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

CARDI B – UP
CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP
CHLOE X HALLE – DO IT
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG – GO CRAZY
DRAKE FT. LIL DURK – LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

BENNY BOOM
BRUNO MARS AND FLORENT DÉCHARD
COLE BENNETT
COLIN TILLEY
DAVE MEYERS
HYPE WILLIAMS

BEST MOVIE

COMING 2 AMERICA
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…
SOUL
THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY

BEST ACTRESS

ANDRA DAY
ANGELA BASSETT
ISSA RAE
JURNEE SMOLLETT
VIOLA DAVIS
ZENDAYA

BEST ACTOR

ALDIS HODGE
CHADWICK BOSEMAN
DAMSON IDRIS
DANIEL KALUUYA
EDDIE MURPHY
LAKEITH STANFIELD

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

ALEX R. HIBBERT
ETHAN HUTCHISON
LONNIE CHAVIS
MARSAI MARTIN
MICHAEL EPPS
STORM REID

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

A’JA WILSON
CANDACE PARKER
CLARESSA SHIELDS
NAOMI OSAKA
SERENA WILLIAMS
SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

KYRIE IRVING
LEBRON JAMES
PATRICK MAHOMES
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
RUSSELL WILSON
STEPHEN CURRY