Top 10 International Award Winning Nigerian celebrities
Nigeria’s entertainment industry has made its mark not only in African continents but has also made waves internationally. Nigerian music and movies gained much global popularity, with artists and actors receiving nominations for international awards.
Here is the Top 10 International Award Winning Nigerian celebrities:
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Late ‘king of Afrobeats’ legend, Fela Kuti, has won many international awards during his lifetime.
Even after his death, Fela’s legacy continues as he’s been recognized and nominated multiple times for the Grammy Awards. His influence on the international music scene, particularly in genres like Afrobeat, is undeniable.
Fela was recognised as the first Nigerian or African to receive the DSTV award when it was first awarded out in 2003.
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Popular Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2face, received the MTV Europe Music Award ‘Best African act’ in 2005. He was also the first African to receive the award as the category was introduced that year.
He was also recognized internationally with awards from World Music Awards, and BET Awards, among others.
Burna Boy
Burna Boy stands out as a prominent figure in the African music scene. His influence isn’t limited to the continent; he’s achieved significant success globally. Throughout his illustrious career, he’s garnered eight international award nominations and clinched six of those honors. Notably, he bagged the Best International Act at the BET Awards in both 2019 and 2020. Additionally, he was crowned Best African Act at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards. His acclaimed album ‘Twice As Tall’ also earned him the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
Wizkid
Big Wiz stands tall among Nigerian artists who have been internationally recognized. He holds the record for the most BET Awards nominations by an African artist.
In 2012, he clinched the BET Award for Best International Act: Africa. Moreover, in the same year, Wizkid, along with Beyonce, Blue Ivy, and SAINt JHN, earned a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for Beyonce’s hit, “Brown Skin Girl”. Further acclaim came in the same year at the Soul Train Music Awards, where his collaboration with TEMs on the track “Essence” was celebrated with the “Best Collaboration” award.
Lateef Adedimeji
Renowned Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji clinched an international award in the U.S. for his stellar performance in the blockbuster movie “Ayinla.” This accolade was announced at the Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPA).
He joined the likes of Ramsey Nouah and Etinosa Idemudia in receiving the “Best Actor” award for a Motion Picture, recognizing his leading role in “Ayinla.” Lateef expressed immense joy for this honor, especially since he once hoped for even a brief appearance in one of Tunde Kelani’s films.
Kunle Afolayan
Prominent Nollywood actor and movie producer was recently recognized by the Oscar awards. “In 2022, Kunle Afolayan’s acclaimed Nollywood movie “Citation” won the Best International Film accolade at the National Film Festival (NFF) in the UK. The director expressed his surprise at the win, emphasizing that there was no lobbying involved and the award was purely based on merit. The film’s leading stars, Jimmy Jean Louis and Temi Otedola, gracefully accepted the honor.”
Tems
Nigerian singer and songwriter, Temilade Openiyi, won Best Collaboration at the Bet Awards 2022 alongside Wizkid and Justin Bieber.
They received recognition for their remix of Wizkid’s Essence from his 2020 album Made in Lagos. The song was already popular in Nigeria, but the collaboration gave it greater notoriety and allowed it to enter the Top 10 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on Billboard. TEMS and Wizkid also took home the “Best Collaboration” award at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards. TEMS is additionally the first female musician from Nigeria to take home a Bet Award in this category. She was also credited on Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ album.
D’Banj
Prominent Nigerian musician D’Banj is celebrated for his significant impact on the music scene, notably as the first Nigerian recipient of a BET Award. In 2011, both D’Banj and 2Face clinched the BET Award for Best International Act: Africa, marking the inauguration of this award category. With this achievement, they became the pioneering Nigerian and African artists to secure the honor. This recognition further elevated the global standing of Nigerian music, underscoring its dominance over other international counterparts.
Stan Nze
Popular Nollywood actor and model, Stan Nze, won his inaugural international accolade for his role in Play Network Studios’ rendition of “Rattlesnake.” He secured the Septimius award for “Best African Actor” in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was nominated alongside seven other actors from Nigeria and South Africa, including Thabo Rametsi from Netflix’s “Silverton Siege.” Stan Nze’s portrayal of the lead character in “Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story,” directed by Ramsey Nouah and produced by Play Network Studios, earned him this distinguished honor.
Rema
In 2023, the ‘Gen Z’ Afrobeats singer, Rema, became the second African act to win MTV Video Music Award award after Wizkid in 2021. His music, ‘Calm Down’ featuring Selena Gomez has put the Mavins signee on the music global map since its release.
