MTV EMAs: Rema’s Shines While Burna Boy Misses Out on Three Awards

Nigerian artist Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, clinched the inaugural “Best Afrobeats” award at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards. The new category, “Best Afrobeats,” was introduced for the 2023 event, with nominees including French superstar Aya Nakamura and Nigerian artists Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema. Despite the cancellation of the award ceremony due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the winners were still announced on Sunday, November 6, 2023.

Rema secured the “Best Afrobeats” award, while Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz won the ‘Best African Act’ category. In the “Best Collaboration” category, Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ lost to Jung Kook and Latto’s ‘Seven.’

Notably, Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy missed out on three awards, including “Best Afrobeats,” “Best African Act,” and “Best Live Performer.” This comes shortly after he failed to win any of his seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards. American singer Taylor Swift emerged as the top winner at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards, taking home three awards for Best Video, Best Artist, and Best Live.