The BET Hiphop Awards have for the first time ever, nominated
Nigerian acts in their 'International' category. According to the list
of nominees released by the organisers on Tuesday, homeboys,
P-square and MI, are up for the 'Best International Act' prize,
alongside other promising acts from across the world: Chipmunk
(UK), Kojo Antwi (Ghana), Estelle (UK), Dizzee Rascal (UK), HHP
(SA), K'Naan (Somalia), Sade (UK) and Corinne Bailey Rae (UK).
The development, analysts say, is in line with BET's
recent policy on the African continent, especially
Nigeria where they're already doing a lot of work in
terms of content. Nigeria is becoming one of the
biggest markets for global youth brands, and the
success of MTV (which came in February 2005),
appears to be giving the green light to many others.
MTV and MOBO are the first international awards to
recognise home-grown African talents. But, unlike
both awards which created separate 'African'
categories, the BET is pitching African acts against
their contemporaries from Europe and the US - a
move that could work for, or against the African acts
depending on who eventually wins what.
This year's BET, scheduled for June 27, will be hosted by Hiphop
veteran, Queen Latifah, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, some of the biggest nominees this year include Jay Z
and Beyonce - with five and four nods respectively. Alicia Keys is
also up for four categories...
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