Nigerian music stars have again made their mark on the global stage, clinching prestigious accolades at the NAACP Image Awards. Among the winners announced during the virtual ceremony, Tems stood out, winning the Outstanding International Song award for her hit track “Me & U.” This marks her fourth NAACP Image Award win, adding to an impressive collection that includes Grammys, Oscars, and BET awards.
Additionally, Davido and Lojay secured a win for their collaboration with Chris Brown on the track “Sensational,” taking home the Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) award.
British-Nigerian author Aleema Omotoni also received recognition and won the Outstanding Literary Work (Youth/Teens) award for her young adult novel “Everyone’s Thinking It.” The story follows the journey of two Nigerian cousins attending an elite boarding school in England, navigating secrets and conspiracies in the lead-up to the annual Valentine’s Day Ball.
I'M AN AWARD WINNING AUTHOR!!! 😭😭😭 I WON AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD!!!
Thank you God, thank you so much to everyone that helped me get to this day, I'm so grateful to you all for loving and sharing EVERYONE'S THINKING IT!
Thank you @naacpimageaward!!!
🩷🩷🩷 pic.twitter.com/m14Z76tRnB
— aleema omotoni (@aleemawrites) March 12, 2024
Other notable winners include Victoria Monét, who received two awards for Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Album, and Usher, who took home the Outstanding Male Artist award. H.E.R. was honoured with the Female Artist prize, while “The Color Purple” soundtrack won the Outstanding Soundtrack or Compilation Album award.
The NAACP Image Awards ceremony will be broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, and air on BET and CBS. Queen Latifah will return as the host.
For the complete list of winners, see below:
• International Song: “Me & U” – Tems
• Jazz Album: “Brand New Life” – Brandee Younger
• Gospel/Christian Song: “All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown
• Gospel/Christian Album: “Father’s Day” – Kirk Franklin
• Group or Collaboration (Traditional): “How We Roll” – Ciara feat. Chris Brown
• Group or Collaboration (Contemporary): “Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
• Soundtrack/Compilation Album: “The Color Purple – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Producers
• Original Score for T.V./Film: “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” – Jongnic Bontemps
• Male Artist: “Good Good” – Usher with 21 Savage x Summer Walker
• Female Artist: “The Journey” – H.E.R.
• New Artist: “Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét
• Hip Hop/Rap Song: “Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion
• Album: “Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét
• Literary Work – Fiction: “Family Lore” – Elizabeth Acevedo
• Literary Work – Non-Fiction: “The New Brownies’ Book” – Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer
• Literary Work – Debut Author: “Rootless” – Krystle Zara Appiah
• Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography: “Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement” – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford
• Literary Work – Instructional: “Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?'” – Jarrett Hill and Tre’vell Anderson
• Literary Work – Graphic Novel: “The Talk” – Darrin Bell
• Literary Work – Poetry: “Suddenly We” – Evie Shockley
• Literary Work – Children: “CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora” – Kahran Bethencourt
• Literary Work – Youth/Teens: “Everyone’s Thinking It” – Aleema Omotoni
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