Nigeria’s biggest music exports, Asake, Wizkid, Burna Boy and Tems have missed out on 2026 BET Awards held on Sunday at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles
Hosted by comedian Druski, the annual event honoured outstanding achievements across music, film, television and sports.
American entertainer Teyana Taylor and hip-hop duo Clipse emerged among the night’s biggest winners.
Tems entered the awards with the strongest Nigerian showing, earning three nominations.
She was shortlisted for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, BET Her for her song First, and the Viewers’ Choice Award for Raindance, her collaboration with British rapper Dave.
Despite the nominations, she was edged out in every category. Kehlani claimed the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist prize, Doechii and SZA won the BET Her Award with Girl, Get Up, while Mariah the Scientist’s Burning Blue secured the Viewers’ Choice Award.
Although she did not win, Tems still took to the stage to perform her 2025 single, What You Need.
Wizkid and Asake were nominated together in the Best Group category but lost to Clipse, who also picked up Album of the Year for Let God Sort Em Out and Best Collaboration for Chains & Whips featuring Kendrick Lamar.
Burna Boy also missed out in the Best Collaboration category, where he had been nominated for his feature on Gunna’s WGFT.
South African star Tyla also went home empty-handed after losing in both the Video of the Year and Viewers’ Choice Award categories.
The disappointment extended beyond music, as nominees of Nigerian and broader African heritage were also unable to secure victories in the film and television categories.
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