Nigeria’s global artist Rema has won a 2023 MTV Video Music Award.
He took home the award in the inaugural Best Afrobeats category for his international smash hit “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez.
The song pipped Ayra Starr‘ s “Rush”, Burna Boy‘s “It’s Plenty”, Davido featuring Musa Key‘s “Unavailable”, Libianca‘s “People”, Wizkid featuring Ayra Starr’s “2 Sugar” and Fireboy DML‘s “Bandana” for Best Afrobeats.
‘Calm Down’ was also nominated in the “song of the year” category and the “best collaboration” category.
This win follows Rema’s historic feat as the first African artist to reach a billion streams on Spotify with his song ‘Calm Down’ featuring Selena Gomez.
Rema and Selena Gomez accept the #VMA for Best Afrobeats pic.twitter.com/GD5SRFVH6E
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 13, 2023
Taylor Swift was the biggest winner of the night as she took home 9 awards which makes her second only to Beyonce for most wins at the VMAs.
See the full list of winners below:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ice Spice
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
April 2023: Tomorrow X Together – “Sugar Rush Ride”
BEST COLLABORATION
Karol G, Shakira – “TQG”
BEST POP
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
BEST HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
BEST R&B
SZA – “Shirt”
BEST ROCK
Måneskin – “The Loneliest”
BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Funk Rave”
BEST AFROBEATS
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Lana Del Rey feat. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace”
BEST K-POP
Stray Kids – “S-Class”
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Dove Cameron – “Breakfast”
SHOW OF THE SUMMER
Taylor Swift
GROUP OF THE YEAR
BLACKPINK
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – Midnights
SONG OF THE SUMMER
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Directed by Taylor Swift)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Cinematography by Rina Yang)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Visual Effects by Parliament)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” (Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX))
BEST ART DIRECTION
Doja Cat – “Attention” (Art Direction by Spencer Graves)
BEST EDITING
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” (Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel)
VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD
Shakira
GLOBAL ICON AWARD
Diddy
