The singer edged out the likes of UK act, Stormzy, Tiwa Savage and Cassper Nyovest to claim the award. Davido made history with the award as he became the first African to climb the BET main stage to receive the award for Best International act.
Since BET created the category in 2011, the award was handed to the winners at the back stage. This sparked some sort of revolution led by the likes of Wizkid, Fuse OG and Yemi Alade who dissociated themselves from the award, complaining that the back stage treatment reeks of disrespect to African artistes.
Earlier in the year, the organizers of the award announced changes to the Best International Act category. The organizers announced that the recipient of the BET Best International Act Award would now climb the main stage as opposed to the back stage arrangement that used to be the norm.
The change took effect on Sunday, June 24th, 2018 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California as Davido climbed the BET main stage, holding his award in his hands while urging International music stars to collaborate with African artistes. He said,
“Let`s collaborate, everybody. Let`s collaborate, man.”
See full list below.
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Award
Beyoncé *WINNER
SZA
H.E.R.
Rihanna
Kehlani
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Award
Bruno Mars *WINNER
Chris Brown
The Weeknd
Khalid
Daniel Caesar
Best Group Award
Migos *WINNER
A Tribe Called Quest
N*E*R*D
Rae Sremmurd
Chloe x Halle
Best Collaboration Award
Bruno Mars /Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)
DJ Khalid /Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts *WINNER
DJ Khalid /Jay-Z, Future & Beyonc̩ РTop Off
Cardi B /21 Savage – Bartier Cardi
French Montana f/Swae Lee – Unforgettable
Kendrick Lamar f/Rihanna – Loyalty
Best Male Hip Hop Artist Award
Drake
Kendrick Lamar *WINNER
DJ Khaled
Jay-Z
J.Cole
Best Female Hip Hop Artist Award
Cardi B *WINNER
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Dej Loaf
Rapsody
Video of the Year Award
Drake – God’s Plan *WINNER
Cardi B – Bodak Yellow
Bruno Mars /Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)
DJ Khaled /Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
Kendrick Lamar – Humble
Migos /Drake Walk It Talk It
Video Director of the Year Award
Benny Boom
Director X
Ava DuVernay *WINNER
Chris Brown
Dave Meyers
Best New Artist Award
SZA *WINNER
H.E.R.
Daniel Caesar
Gold
LinkA
Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Lecrae / Tory Kelly – I’ll Find You *WINNER
Snoop Dogg / B Slade – Words Are Few
Ledisi and Kirk Franklin – If You Don’t Mind
Marvin Sapp – Close
Tasha Cobbs Leonard f/ Nicki Minaj – I’m Getting Ready
Best Actress Award
Tiffany Haddish *WINNER
Lupita Nyong’o
Issa Rae
Angela Bassett
Letitia Wright
Taraji P. Henson
Best Actor Award
Chadwick Boseman *WINNER
Michael B. Jordan
Donald Glover
Sterling K. Brown
Denzel Washington
Daniel Kaluuya
Young Stars Award
Yara Shahidi *WINNER
Ashton Tyler
Caleb McLaughlin
Lonnie Chavis
Marsai Martin
Miles Brown
Best Movie Award
Black Panther *WINNER
Girls Trip
A Wrinkle in Time
Detroit
Mudbound
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Serena Williams *WINNER
Venus Williams
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Candace Parker
Elana Meyers Taylor
Sportsman of the Year Award
Stephen Curry
LeBron James *WINNER
Kevin Durant
Dwayne Wade
Odell Beckham Jr.
Album of the Year Award
Kendrick Lamar – Damn *WINNER
SZA – Ctrl
Jay-Z – 4:44
Migos – Culture II
Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album
DJ Khaled – Grateful
BET Her Award
Janelle Monáe – Django Jane
Lizzo – Water Me
Mary J. Blige – Strength of a Woman *WINNER
Remy Ma f/ Chris Brown – Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)
Chloe x Halle – The Kids Are Alright
Leikeli47 – 2nd Fiddle
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
SZA / Travis Scott – Love Galore
Cardi B – Bodak Yellow *WINNER
Kendrick Lamar – Humble
Drake – God’s Plan
Migos / Nicki Minaj and Cardi B – MotorSport
DJ Khaled f/ Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
The Best International Act Award
Booba (FRANCE)
Cassper Nyovest (SA)
Dadju (FRANCE)
Davido (NIGERIA) *WINNER
Distruction Boyz (SA)
Fally Ipupa (DR CONGO)
J Hus (UK)
NISKA (FRANCE)
Tiwa Savage (NIGERIA)
Stefflon Don (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
Watch video below.
