Tems leads African BET nominations

Tems led the African-linked contenders in the 2026 BET Awards nominations, with three nods spanning music and fan-voted categories. BET’s nominations page lists the Nigerian singer in Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, while Africa-focused coverage from allAfrica highlighted her additional recognition in Viewers’ Choice and the BET Her field. Wizkid, Asake, Burna Boy and Tyla also appeared across major music categories ahead of the June 28 ceremony. BET published its nominees list in May, and its awards page says the show will air live on June 28 at 8 p.m. Druski is set to host, according to BET. The nominations place several African artists inside the main ballot rather than only region-specific fields, a pattern visible in categories including Best Group, Best Collaboration, Video of the Year and Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. ### Which nominations put Tems at the center of this year’s African field? Tems appears three times in the 2026 lineup, according to allAfrica and other Africa-focused reports that matched the official BET list on her Best Female R&B/Pop Artist berth. Those reports said her other nominations were for the BET Her Award for “First” and Viewers’ Choice for her Dave collaboration “Raindance.” BET’s official nominees page confirms Tems in Best Female R&B/Pop Artist alongside Ari Lennox, Coco Jones, Ella Mai, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist, Olivia Dean and SZA. That places her in one of the ceremony’s broader genre categories rather than a regional slot. ### Where did Wizkid, Asake, Burna Boy and Tyla land? Wizkid and Asake were nominated together in Best Group, according to BET’s nominees page. That nomination follows their joint project work and gives two Nigerian stars a place in a category that otherwise includes pairings and established rap or R&B acts. Burna Boy was listed in Best Collaboration for “WGFT,” a track with Gunna, according to BET’s official page. (bet.com) Tyla appeared in Video of the Year for “Chanel,” placing the South African singer in a category that includes major U.S. releases and established chart artists. ### Who leads the overall BET Awards ballot? Cardi B leads the 2026 BET Awards nominations with six, while Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist follow with five each, according to Variety’s report on the nominations. (bet.com) That broader field provides the context for the African-linked nominees: Tems, Tyla, Burna Boy, Wizkid and Asake are competing inside a ballot topped by some of the biggest U.S. names in rap and R&B. BET’s awards page says the 2026 ceremony is branded as “culture’s biggest night,” and the network’s nominees page shows a ballot spanning music, film, television and sports. Actor and comedian Druski will host the show, BET said. ### Why does this nominations list stand out for African artists? allAfrica’s June 1 report grouped the nominees as an Africa-focused slate, with Tems at the front because of her three nominations. (variety.com) The list also cuts across different lanes: Tems in R&B/pop and fan-voted categories, Wizkid and Asake as a duo, Burna Boy in collaboration, and Tyla in video. (bet.com) The official BET page shows that those nominations are not confined to one segment of the program. Tyla’s “Chanel” is in Video of the Year, Burna Boy is attached to a Best Collaboration nominee, and Wizkid and Asake are in Best Group. ### When is the ceremony and what happens next? June 28 is the date BET has set for the 2026 awards ceremony, and the network says the show will air live at 8 p.m. from Los Angeles. (bellanaija.com) BET also says Druski will host this year’s event. The next milestone is the live broadcast, when nominees including Tems, Wizkid, Asake, Burna Boy and Tyla will learn whether their nominations convert into wins. (bet.com) BET’s nominees page and awards hub carry the current ballot and event details ahead of the show. (bet.com)