By John Ikani
The BET Awards, which celebrate Black excellence in music, culture and sports, were presented Sunday.
This year’s award show was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress Taraji P. Henson for the second year in a row.
The award show saw high-profile figures across every sector of the entertainment industry receive trophies for their work — with show-stopping performances from Roddy Rich, Fireboy DML, Jack Harlow, Babyface, Chance the Rapper, GIVĒON, Chlöe, Joey Bada$$, amongst others.
Afrobeats was well represented at the award with Pheelz performing on the red carpet and Fireboy DML performing at the live event.
Leading the BET Awards 2022 nominations was Doja Cat with nods in six categories for her Planet Her album and its singles. Closely following with four nominations each is Drake, recognized for his work on last year’s Certified Lover Boy album, and Ari Lennox for her single “Pressure” and Summer Walker collaboration “Unloyal.”
Other top nominees at the upcoming ceremony included Chlöe, Baby Keem, Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige, and Tems — who all closely follow Lennox, 31, and Drake, 35, with three nominations each.
Additionally, Sean “Diddy” Combs was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which has previously gone to the likes of Whitney Houston, Prince and more. The prestigious award aims to praise those “who have not only significantly shaped culture through their extensive careers, but who have also been transformative leaders that consistently inspire generations by setting a true standard of excellence,” according to a press release.
Wizkid won the award for Best Collaboration for ‘Essence’ featuring Tems and Justin Bieber.
Tems also took home the award for Best International Act.
Here is a list of all the winners at the 2022 BET Awards marked in red.
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Chlöe
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker
Best male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Chris Brown
Giveon
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd
Wizkid
Yung Bleu
Best Group
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak)
Chlöe X Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Young Dolph & Key Glock
Best Collaboration
Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems – ‘Essence’
DJ Khaled fest. Lil Baby & Lil Durk – ‘Every Chance I Get’
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – ‘Family Ties’
Doja Cat feat. SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – ‘Way 2 Sexy’
Bia feat. Nicki Minaj – ‘Whole Lotta Money (Remix)’
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby
Video of the Year
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – ‘Family Ties’
Chlöe – ‘Have Mercy’
Doja Cat feat. SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’
Ari Lennox – ‘Pressure’
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson Paak) – ‘Smokin Out The Window’
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – ‘Way 2 Sexy’
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak
Benny Boom
Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott
Best New Artist
Baby Keem
Benny the Butcher
Latto
Muni Long
Tems
Yung Bleu
Album of the Year
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson Paak) – ‘An Evening with Silk Sonic’
H.E.R. – ‘Back of My Mind’
Tyler, the Creator – ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’
Drake – ‘Certified Lover Boy’
Kanye West – ‘Donda’
Jazmine Sullivan – ‘Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe’
Doja Cat – ‘Planet Her’
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/
Inspirational Award
Marvin Sapp – ‘All In Your Hands’
Kanye West – ‘Come to Life’
Kelly Price – ‘Grace’
Fred Hammond – ‘Hallelujah’
H.E.R. & Tauren Wells – ‘Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)’
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music – ‘Jireh’
Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin – ‘We Win’
BET Her
Alicia Keys – ‘Best of Me (Originals)’
Mary J. Blige – ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’
Chlöe – ‘Have Mercy’
Ari Lennox – ‘Pressure’
Jazmine Sullivan – ‘Roster’
Summer Walker & Ari Lennox – ‘Unloyal’
Doja Cat – ‘Woman’
Best International Act
Dave (UK)
Dinos (France)
Fally (DRC)
Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
Little Simz (UK)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Major League DJZ (South Africa)
Tayc (France)
Tems (Nigeria)
Best Movie
‘Candyman’
‘King Richard’
‘Respect’
Space Jam: A New Legacy’
‘Summer of Soul’
‘The Harder They Fall’
Best Actor
Adrian Holmes – ‘Bel-Air’
Anthony Anderson – ‘Black-ish’
Damson Idris – ‘Snowfall’
Denzel Washington – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
Forest Whitaker – ‘Respect’ / “Godfather of Harlem’
Jabari Banks – ‘Bel-Air’
Sterling K. Brown – ‘This Is Us’
Will Smith – ‘King Richard’
Best Actress
Aunjanue Ellis – ‘King Richard’
Coco Jones – ‘Bel-Air’
Issa Rae – ‘Insecure’
Jennifer Hudson – ‘Respect’
Mary J. Blige – ‘Power Book II: Ghost’
Queen Latifah – ‘The Equalizer’
Quinta Brunson – ‘Abbott Elementary’
Regina King – ‘The Harder They Fall’
Zendaya – ‘Euphoria’ / ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
Youngstars Award
Akira Akbar
Demi Singleton
Miles Brown
Saniyya Sidney
Storm Reid
Marsai Martin
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Donald
Bubba Wallace
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ja Morant
LeBron James
Stephen Curry
