Popular Nigerian singer, Rema has emerged as the inaugural recipient of the “Best Afrobeats” award at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards.

It would be recalled that the event organizers introduced a new category named “Best Afrobeats” for the 2023 ceremony.

The initial nominees included French superstar Aya Nakamura, alongside Nigerian artists Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema.

Even though the award ceremony was cancelled due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the winners were still announced on Sunday, November 6, 2023.

Rema was declared the winner of the “Best Afrobeats” category, while Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz received the award for “Best African Act.”

In the “Best Collaboration” category, Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” did not secure the win, losing to Jung Kook and Latto’s “Seven.”

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

This happened shortly after he lost all seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

American singer Taylor Swift led the list of winners with three awards at the 2023 MTV EMAs, receiving honours for “Best Video,” “Best Artist,” and “Best Live.”