Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor aka Rema took home the maiden “Best Afrobeats” award at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards.
The organisers had recently introduced a new category called “Best Afrobeats” into the 2023 event.
The pioneer nominees were French superstar, Aya Nakamura, and Nigerian singers, Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema.
Despite the award ceremony being cancelled amid the Israel-Hamas war, the organisers still announced the winners on Sunday, November 6, 2023.
Rema was adjudged the “Best Afrobeats” winner, while Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz won the ‘Best African Act’ category.
However, Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ lost the “Best Collaboration” category to Jung Kook and Latto’s ‘Seven’.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Burna Boy lost three awards, including “Best Afrobeats”, “Best African Act’, and “Best Live Performer.”
This came barely two weeks after he lost all seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.
American singer, Taylor Swift led the winners chart with three awards at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards – Best Video, Best Artist and Best Live.
See full list below:
Best Song
Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red”
WINNER: Jung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Rema, Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
Best Video
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion – “Bongos”
Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
Little Simz – “Gorilla”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
WINNER: Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Best Artist
Doja Cat
Miley Cyrus
Nicki Minaj
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Best Collaboration
Central Cee x Dave – “Sprinter”
David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray – “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”
WINNER: KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage – “Creepin’”
PinkPantheress, Ice Spice – “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2”
Rema, Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
Best New
Coi Leray
FLO
Ice Spice
WINNER: Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp
Best Pop
WINNER: Billie Eilish
Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
Best Afrobeats
Asake
Aya Nakamura
Ayra Starr
Burna Boy
Davido
WINNER: Rema
Best Rock
Arctic Monkeys
Foo Fighters
WINNER: Måneskin
Metallica
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Killers
Best Latin
WINNER: Anitta
Bad Bunny
KAROL G
Peso Pluma
ROSALÍA
Shakira
Best K-pop
FIFTY FIFTY
WINNER: Jung Kook
NewJeans
SEVENTEEN
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Alternative
Blur
Fall Out Boy
WINNER: Lana Del Rey
Paramore
Thirty Seconds to Mars
YUNGBLUD
Best Electronic
Alesso
Calvin Harris
WINNER: David Guetta
Swedish House Mafia
Peggy Gou
Tiësto
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B
Central Cee
Lil Wayne
Lil Uzi Vert
Metro Boomin
WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Travis Scott
Best R&B
Chlöe
WINNER: Chris Brown
Steve Lacy
Summer Walker
SZA
Usher
Best Live
Beyoncé
Burna Boy
Ed Sheeran
Måneskin
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Best Push
November 2022: Flo Milli
December 2022: Reneé Rapp
January 2023: Sam Ryder
February 2023: Armani White
March 2023: FLETCHER
WINNER: April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Biggest Fans
Anitta
Billie Eilish
BLACKPINK
Jung Kook
Nicki Minaj
Olivia Rodrigo
Sabrina Carpenter
Selena Gomez
Taylor Swift
Best Group
aespa
FLO
Jonas Brothers
Måneskin
NewJeans
OneRepublic
SEVENTEEN
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
2023 MTV EMA Best Local Act Nominees:
Best African Act
Asake
Burna Boy
Libianca
Tyler ICU
WINNER: Diamond Platnumz
Best Asia Act
WINNER: BE:FIRST
BRIGHT
Moria
Tiara Andini
TREASURE
Best Australian Act
Budjerah
G Flip
WINNER: Kylie Minogue
The Kid LAROI
Troye Sivan
Best Brasilian Act
Anavitoria
Kevin O Chris
Luisa Sonza
Manu Gavassi
WINNER: Matue
Best Canadian Act
Charlotte Cardin
Drake
Jamie Fine
WINNER: Shania Twain
The Beaches
Best Caribbean Act
Eladio Carrion
Mora
Myke Towers
Rauw Alejandro
WINNER: Young Miko
Best Dutch Act
WINNER: FLEMMING
Idaly
Kriss Kross Amsterdam
S10
Zoë Tauran
Best French Act
Aime Simone
Aya Nakamura
WINNER: Bigflo & Oli
Louane
Ninho
Slimane
Best German Act
Apache 207
AYLIVA
WINNER: Kontra K
Luciano
Nina Chuba
Ski Aggu
Best Hungarian Act
WINNER: ajsa luna
Analog Balaton
Beton.Hofi
Co Lee
Hundred Sins
Best India Act
Dee MC
DIVINE
Mali
WINNER: Tsumyoki
When Chai Met Toast
Best Italian Act
Annalisa
Elodie
Lazza
WINNER: Måneskin
The Kolors
Best Israeli Act
Anna Zak
Liad Meir
Noa Kirel
Nunu
Shira Margalit
Best Latin America North Act
Danna Paola
WINNER: Kenia Os
Kevin Kaarl
Siddhartha
Natanael Cano
Best Latin America Central Act
Blessd
WINNER: Feid
Manuel Turizo
Ryan Castro
Sebastian Yatra
Best Latin America South Act
Bizarrap
Duki
Fito Paez
WINNER: Lali
Nicki Nicole
Best New Zealand Act
BENEE
JessB
Jolyon Petch
L.A.B.
WINNER: SIX60
Best Nordic Act
Alessandra
WINNER: Käärijä
Loreen
Swedish House Mafia
Zara Larsson
Best Polish Act
WINNER: Doda
Kasia Nosowska
Mrozu
Sanah
Vito Bambino
Best Portuguese Act
Bárbara Bandeira
WINNER: Bispo
Carolina Deslandes
Marisa Liz
PIRUKA
Best Spanish Act
Abraham Mateo
Álvaro de Luna
Lola Índigo
Quevedo
WINNER: Samantha Hudson
Best Swiss Act
Danitsa
WINNER: Gjon’s Tears
KT Gorique
Monet192
Stress
Best UK & Ireland Act
Calvin Harris
Central Cee
PinkPantheress
Raye
Sam Smith
WINNER: Tom Grennan
Best US Act
Doja Cat
WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
Taylor Swift
