MTV EMAs: Rema wins big as Burna Boy loses three awards

At the MTV Europe Music Awards this year, Divine Ikubor, better known by her stage name Rema, a Nigerian singer, took up the inaugural “Best Afrobeats” prize.

Recall that the 2023 event will feature a brand-new category called “Best Afrobeats” thanks to the organisers.

Aya Nakamura, the French celebrity, and the Nigerian singers Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema were the pioneer nominees.

Even though the award presentation was postponed due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the winners were nonetheless announced on November 6, 2023, a Sunday.

Rema was adjudged the “Best Afrobeats” winner, while Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz won the ‘Best African Act’ category.

However, Rema and Selena Gomez’s ‘Calm Down’ lost the “Best Collaboration” category to Jung Kook and Latto’s ‘Seven’.

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Burna Boy lost three awards, including “Best Afrobeats”, “Best African Act’, and “Best Live Performer.”

This came barely two weeks after he lost all seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

American singer, Taylor Swift led the winners chart with three awards at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards – Best Video, Best Artist and Best Live.