For the first time, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, has seen the introduction of an Afrobeats category.
The Afrobeats genre of music has been making waves for sometime now.
One will say it is long overdue to see the category in the VMA’s this year. Afrobeats music has high presence in West Africa, and is often created to the Nigerian music industry.
There a number of reasons that could have necessitated the introduction of the Afrobeats category in this year’s Music Awards. Ranging from the international tours by Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, just to mention a few to the song that set the internet ablaze ‘Calm Down’.
Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ became an internet sensation.
The song has help Rema to dominate the music scene and music charts for sometime.
It is therefore, not a surprise to see the new Afrobeats category being dominated by Nigerian Musicians.
Apart from the Cameroonian-American singer in the midst, the Nigerians stole the category.
Below are the nominations for the Afrobeats category: Best Afrobeats Ayra Starr – “Rush” – Mavin Global Holdings Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty” – Atlantic Records / Spaceship Entertainment Ltd Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records Fireboy DML & Asake – “Bandana” – Empire Distribution Libianca – “People” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar” – Starboy / RCA Records
Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ also appeared in two other categories as indicated below; Song of the Year Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit” – L-M Records / RCA Records SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records Records Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
Best Collaboration David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)” – Warner Records Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Mercury Records / Republic Records Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
Credit: themovietrain.com