Nigerian music stars Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Rema, Tems, and Asake have earned nominations for the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), highlighting Nigeria’s rising prominence in the global music scene. Ayra Starr leads the Nigerian nominees with four nominations, including Best New Artist, Best Afrobeats Act, Best African Act, and Best Push.
This year’s EMAs are heavily dominated by female artists, with 10 out of the 11 top nominees being women. Taylor Swift leads with seven nominations, followed by Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Sabrina Carpenter, who each have five. Kendrick Lamar is the only male among the top contenders, sharing four nominations with Ayra Starr, Beyoncé, and BLACKPINK’s LISA.
In the Best Afrobeats Act category, Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, Asake, and Ayra Starr will compete alongside South Africa’s Tyla, who previously caused controversy by claiming she doesn’t make Afrobeats in her 2024 VMAs speech.
This year’s nominations underscore the global influence of pop music, with artists from Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, and England among the frontrunners, and mark a significant moment for African artists, particularly in the Afrobeats genre.
Peoplesmind