The organizers of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards have once again failed to recognise African recipients on the main stage. The recent incident that occurred at the award show on Monday, June 9, prompted social media users and pundits to clamor for a transition.
Despite the global explosion of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and other African genres, many observers and artists feel that the BET Awards still treat African acts as afterthoughts, reinforcing a hierarchy that favors African-American artists over their African counterparts.
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History of BET Awards
The BET Awards, launched in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network, were created to celebrate the achievements of Black artists, athletes, and entertainers across the globe. While it has played a pivotal role in highlighting Black excellence in music and entertainment, the awards have increasingly come under scrutiny, especially for the way they treat African musicians.
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A Perceived Animosity Towards Afrobeats and Africans
In the past decade, African artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tems, Rema, and Ayra Starr have made monumental strides. Their music tops international charts, sells out arenas, and shapes global culture. Yet, when it comes to recognition on American platforms like the BET Awards, the story becomes complicated.
African artists are typically restricted to the “Best International Act” or the more recent “Best New International Act” categories often not included in major categories like Best Male/Female Artist, Album of the Year, or Best Collaboration, even when their work arguably deserves it.
This practice, critics argue, creates a sense of segregation within celebration, acknowledging African talent, but keeping it at arm’s length.
One of the most common criticisms is that African categories are frequently excluded from the live broadcast. Awards are sometimes presented off-air or during pre-show events, which significantly reduces visibility and prestige.
This issue came to a head in 2015 when Nigerian popstar Yemi Alade and others spoke out. Alade accused BET of “disrespecting African artists” by presenting their awards backstage. Her remarks echoed those of Fuse ODG, a British-Ghanaian artist who declined his BET nomination in protest.
BET initially responded by promising to “do better,” but many believe the system remains unchanged.
BET Awards: It Is Time To Do Better
The BET Awards have the opportunity to lead the way in unifying the global Black community. eelive.ng would admonish BET Award organizers to do the following:
- Broadcasting all major international categories live
- Including African artists in mainstream categories like Artist of the Year or Best Collaboration
- Creating more diverse performance lineups
- Expanding the voting and nomination process to include global industry experts
Platforms like BET have the power to shape narratives. By evolving with the times and embracing global Black artistry, they can strengthen ties between the African diaspora and reflect the true diversity of Black excellence.
Conclusion: Final Statement
In conclusion, African music, especially Afrobeats, is not a fringe genre. It’s a driving force in global pop culture. As earlier stated, the BET Awards are founded on the principles of uplifting Black voices; therefore, it should be at the forefront of this celebration, not behind it.
True equality isn’t just about being seen, but it’s in the little things, such as celebrating the winners on the same stage as their American and other international counterparts.
