In a groundbreaking moment for Nigerian music, Divine Ikubor, widely known as Rema, clinched the inaugural Best Afrobeats award at the prestigious MTV Video Music Awards held on Tuesday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, United States.
The star-studded event, which saw the gathering of global music icons, was a testament to the exceptional talent that has been shaping the music industry on a worldwide scale.
Rema, in collaboration with international sensation Selena Gomez, brought the world a hit song titled ‘Calm Down,’ which not only made waves but also earned three coveted nominations in different categories: Best Collaboration, Song of the Year, and, of course, Best Afrobeats.
However, it was in the Best Afrobeats category that Rema and Selena Gomez etched their names in history books as the first-ever recipients of this newly introduced accolade.
The competition in the Best Afrobeats category was fierce, with nominations that included Burna Boy’s ‘It’s Plenty,’ Davido featuring Musa Key’s ‘Unavailable,’ Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush,’ Libianca’s ‘People,’ Wizkid featuring Ayrra Starr’s ‘2 Sugar,’ and Fireboy DML’s ‘Bandana.’ The inclusion of such notable names underscored the category’s significance in recognizing and celebrating the diversity within the Afrobeats genre.
Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ was released on August 25, 2022, and rapidly gained attention for its distinctive blend of Afrobeats and pop elements. This fusion resonated with music enthusiasts worldwide, solidifying Rema’s status as a trailblazer in the industry.
The MTV Video Music Awards weren’t only about Rema, as several other international artists also basked in the spotlight. Emerging American sensation Ice Spice secured the Best New Artist title, while superstar Nicki Minaj was crowned the Best Hip-Hop Artist.
Taylor Swift walked away with the Best Pop award and the prestigious Song of the Year, and SZA claimed the title of Best R&B artist.
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards proved to be a night of celebration, recognition, and unforgettable performances, marking a significant milestone for Rema and the global music industry as a whole. Rema’s historic win in the Best Afrobeats category reinforces Nigeria’s place on the international music stage and sets a high bar for the future of Afrobeats music.
Here is the full list of winners alongside those nominated for the category.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
Doja Cat – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
KAROL G – Interscope Records
Nicki Minaj – Republic Records
Shakira – Sony Music US Latin
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Winner: Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire” – Geffen Records
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Winner: Ice Spice – 10K Projects / Capitol Records
GloRilla – CMG / Interscope Records
Kaliii – Atlantic Records
Peso Pluma – Double P Records
PinkPantheress – 300 Entertainment
Reneé Rapp – Interscope Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Winner: Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire” – Geffen Records
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records
Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit” – L-M Records / RCA Records
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records Records
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Winner: April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records
August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty” – Arena Records / RCA Records
September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You” – Mercury Records / Republic Records
October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour” – AWAL
November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited” – ’94 Sounds / RCA Records
December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado” – Interscope Records
January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over” – Elektra Entertainment
February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED” – Def Jam
March 2023: FLETCHER – “Becky’s So Hot” – Capitol Records
May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana” – Heavy On It / 10K Projects / Capitol Records
June 2023: FLO – “Losing You” – Uptown/Republic Records
July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part” – Island Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Winner: Ice Spice – 10K Projects / Capitol Records
GloRilla – CMG / Interscope Records
Kaliii – Atlantic Records
Peso Pluma – Double P Records
PinkPantheress – 300 Entertainment
Reneé Rapp – Interscope Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Winner: KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)” – Warner Records
Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Mercury Records / Republic Records
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
BEST POP
Winner: Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island Records
Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records
Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire” – Geffen Records
P!NK – “TRUSTFALL” – RCA Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Winner: Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “STAYING ALIVE” – We The Best / Epic Records
GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2” – CMG / Interscope Records
Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock” – Atlantic Records / Generation Now
Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody” – Young Money Records
Metro Boomin ft Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)” – Boominati / Republic Records
BEST ROCK
Winner: Måneskin – “THE LONELIEST” – Arista Records
Foo Fighters – “The Teacher” – RCA Records
Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)” – Warner Records
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue” – Warner Records
Metallica – “Lux Æterna” – Blackened Recordings
Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween” – Warner Records
BEST R&B
Winner: SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay” – RCA Records
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records
Toosii – “Favorite Song” – South Coast Music Group / Capitol Records
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way” – Empire Distribution
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Winner: Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records
Blink-182 – “EDGING” – Columbia Records
boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records
Fall Out Boy – “Hold Me Like A Grudge” – Fueled By Ramen
Paramore – “This Is Why” – Atlantic Records
Thirty Seconds To Mars – “Stuck” – Concord Records / Concord
BEST EDITING
Winner: Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire” – Geffen Records – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Editing by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)
Kendrick Lamar – “Rich Spirit” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Edited by Grason Caldwell
Miley Cyrus – “River” – Columbia Records – Edited by Brandan Walter
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Edited by Luis Caraza Peimbert
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Edited by Chancler Haynes
BEST AFROBEATS
Ayra Starr – “Rush” – Mavin Global Holdings
Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty” – Atlantic Records / Spaceship Entertainment Ltd
Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records
Fireboy DML & Asake –” Bandana” – Empire Distribution
Libianca – “People” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records
Winner: Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar” – Starboy / RCA Records
