Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and Tems were unable to secure awards at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday night with South African artist Tyla winning the Best Afrobeats category for her hit “Water,” outshining the Nigerian nominees.
Tyla, reflecting on her win, noted the global impact of her song and emphasized the diverse nature of African music. “The global impact that Water had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music, too,” she said. She acknowledged the award as “bittersweet,” highlighting the tendency to categorize African music under a single genre, despite its rich diversity.
In contrast, Taylor Swift was the standout performer of the night, achieving a historic milestone as the most decorated solo artist at the VMAs. She won seven awards, including the prestigious Video of the Year for her collaboration with Post Malone on “Fortnight.”
Here is the complete list of winners for the 2023 MTV VMAs:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
– Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
– Billie Eilish – “Lunch”
– Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
– Eminem – “Houdini”
– SZA – “Snooze”
-Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” — WINNER
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Ariana Grande
– Bad Bunny
– Eminem
– Sabrina Carpenter
– SZA
– Taylor Swift— WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR
– Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em”
– Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
– Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
– Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” — WINNER
– Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
– Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
BEST NEW ARTIST
– Benson Boone
– Chappell Roan — WINNER
– Gracie Abrams
– Shaboozey
– Teddy Swims
– Tyla
BEST COLLABORATION
– Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy”
– GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
– Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones”
– Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
– Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
– Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” — WINNER
BEST POP
– Camila Cabello
– Dua Lipa
– Olivia Rodrigo
– Sabrina Carpenter
– Tate McRae
– Taylor Swift — WINNER
BEST HIP-HOP
– Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy”
– Eminem – “Houdini” — WINNER
– GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!”
– Gunna – “Fukumean”
– Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
– Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N”
BEST R&B
– Alicia Keys – “Lifeline”
– Muni Long – “Made For Me”
– SZA – “Snooze”— WINNER
– Tyla – “Water”
– Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
– Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
BEST ALTERNATIVE
– Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” — WINNER
– Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
– Hozier – “Too Sweet”
– Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed”
– Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire”
– Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)”
BEST ROCK
– Bon Jovi – “Legendary”
– Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
– Green Day – “Dilemma”
– Kings of Leon – “Mustang”
– Lenny Kravitz – “Human” — WINNER
– U2 – “Atomic City”
BEST LATIN
– Anitta – “Mil Veces”— WINNER
– Bad Bunny – “Monaco”
– Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenia Razon”
– Myke Towers – “Lala”
– Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo”
– Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky”
– Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería”
BEST AFROBEATS
– Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
– Burna Boy – “City Boys”
– Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational”
– Tems – “Love Me JeJe”
– Tyla – “Water”— WINNER
– Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin”
BEST K-POP
– Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
– Lisa – “Rockstar” — WINNER
– NCT Dream – “Smoothie”
– NewJeans – “Super Shy”
– Stray Kids – “Lalalala”
– Tomorrow X Together – “Deja vu”
VIDEO FOR GOOD
– Alexander Stewart – “If You Only Knew”
– Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From the Motion Picture “Barbie”)” — WINNER
– Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
– Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me”
– Raye – “Genesis”
– Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
BEST DIRECTION
– Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Directed by Christian Breslauer
– Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley
– Eminem – “Houdini” – Directed by Rich Lee
– Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
– Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Directed by Bardia Zeinali
– Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Directed by Taylor Swift — WINNER
BEST EDITING
– Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Editing by Nick Yumul
– Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert
– Eminem – “Houdini” – Editing by David Checel
– Lisa – “Rockstar” – Editing by Nik Kohler
– Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Editing by Jai Shukla
– Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”– Editing by Chancler Haynes — WINNER
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
– Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Choreography by Margaret Qualley
– Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna — WINNER
– Lisa – “Rockstar” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
– Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
– Tate McRae – “Greedy” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
– Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkhof
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
– Ariana Grande – “The Boy is Mine” – Visual Effects by Digital Axis
– Eminem – “Houdini” – Visual Effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post — WINNER
– Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – Visual Effects by Candice Dragonas
– Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Visual Effects by Mathematic
– Olivia Rodrigo – “Get Him Back!” – Visual Effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
– Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Visual Effects by Parliament
BEST ART DIRECTION
– Charli XCX – “360” – Art Direction by Grace Surnow
– Lisa – “Rockstar” – Art Direction by Pongsan Thawatwichian
– Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Art Direction by Brittany Porter — WINNER
– Olivia Rodrigo – “Bad Idea Right?” – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
– Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
– Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman
