By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-26 12:06:23
The NAACP Image Awards are celebrating their 55th edition this year, with the first awards being presented in 1967. These awards recognize accomplishments across music, television, film, and literature. Non-televised Image Awards categories will be recognized from March 11 to 14, and the event will be live-streamed at https://naacpimageawards.net/.
Africans have been shortlisted in the Outstanding International Song category. Burna Boy was nominated for his song ‘City Boys’, while Asake received a nod for ‘Amapiano’, featuring Olamide. Other nominees in this category include Tems for ‘Me & U’, Libianca featuring Ayra Starr & Omah Lay for ‘People’, and Davido for ‘Unavailable’.
Burna Boy, the continent’s most nominated act, is also up for Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding Album for ‘I Told Them’, Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song, and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) for ‘Sittin’ On Top of the World’, which features 21 Savage.
Tems, who’s RCA Records received 20 nominations (more than any other record label), is also up for Outstanding Female Artist. Davido scored another nomination in the Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album category, alongside fellow Nigerian Lojay, for their contribution to US R&B veteran Chris Brown’s ‘Sensational’.
NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said, “We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of this year’s nominees, whose outstanding contributions across film, television and streaming, music, literature, podcasts, and more have inspired us all. The NAACP Image Awards stand as a tribute to their creativity, talent, and dedication to authentic storytelling and are a testament to the richness and diversity of our community.”
Fans have an opportunity to vote for their favorite nominees in select categories before February 24 at www.naacpimageawards.net.
Several African artists have been nominated in various categories for the NAACP Image Awards:
Outstanding Male Artist
– Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
– Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
– Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
– Jon Batiste (Verve Records)
– Usher (Mega/Gamma)
Outstanding Female Artist
– Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
– Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
– H.E.R. (RCA Records)
– Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)
– Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
Outstanding International Song
– Amapiano – Asake feat. Olamide (YBNL Nation/EMPIRE)
– City Boys – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
– Me & U – Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
– People – Libianca feat. Ayra Starr & Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK/5K Records)
– Unavailable – Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
– Sensational – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
– Boyfriend – Usher (Mega/Gamma)
– Cobra – Megan Thee Stallion (Hot Girl Productions)
– How We Roll – Ciara (Beauty Marks Entertainment)
– On My Mama – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
Outstanding Album
– I Told Them… – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
– Clear 2: Soft Life – Summer Walker (LVRN/Interscope Records)
– For All The Dogs – Drake (OVO/Republic Records)
– Jaguar II – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
– The Age of Pleasure – Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
– Sittin’ On Top of the World – Burna Boy & 21 Savage (Atlantic Records)
– All My Life – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole (Alamo Records)
– Blue Eyes – Vic Mensa (Roc Nation Records, LLC)
– Cobra – Megan Thee Stallion (Atlantic/Warner Bros/Mattel and 10K Projects/Capitol Records)
– Palisades, CA – Larry June & The Alchemist (The Freeminded Records/ALC/EMPIRE)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
– Burna Boy & 21 Savage – Sittin’ On Top of the World (Atlantic Records)
– Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay – Sensational (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
– Lil Durk & J. Cole – All My Life (Alamo Records)
– Usher, 21 Savage, Summer Walker – Good Good (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
– Victoria Monét feat. Lucky Day – Smoke (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
The complete list of nominees can be viewed at https://naacp.org/articles/nominees-announced-55th-naacp-image-awards.
