Nigeria’s queen of music, Tiwa Savage has won the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMAs) in the Best African Act category.
The annual MTV EMA held last night at the expansive Bilbao Exhibition Center, Bilbao, Spain, amidst glitz and glamour, awarding music artistes around the globe in different categories.
The African act category was infused into the MTV EMA to enhance musical alliances across borders, and promote cultural integrations.
Tiwa was nominated alongside fellow Nigerian act,
David Adeleke, aka Davido; South Africa’s Distruction Boyz and Shekinah; Kenya’s Nyashinski and Fally Ipupa from the DRC.
The songstress, in June of this year, lost to Davido, in the Best International Act category of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.
Speaking with The Nation on the red carpet, prior to the award show, Tiwa was full of accolades for Davido whom she proudly called by his alias; O.B.O.
She said it was humbling being nominated in the same category of the award with Davido. She also gave a shout out to fellow contestant from DRC, Fally Ipupa.
It may be the second time that Tiwa was rocking the MTV red carpet, having won the Best Female Act at the African version of the reward scheme called MTV Africa Music Award (MAMA) in 2014.
Delighted by her first-time experience in Bilbao, Tiwa simple said she loves the Spanish food, while also describing the award organisation as ‘incredible’.
Alao, a 26-year-old Nigerian lady, Hauwa Ojeifo won in the first edition of MTV EMA Generation Change Award category.
Miss Ojeifo who was selected among four others was missed on the red carpet, as she could not secure a Schengen Visa from the Spanish embassy in Nigeria to embark on the trip.
Her award category was presented during the MTV EMA red carpet pre-show.
The award aims to elevate and empower the fearless, original young people who are changing the world.
Ojeifo was selected alongside a 21-year old Afghanistan, Sonita Alizadeh; 17 year old Lebanese, Mohamad Aljounde; 20 year old Briton, Ellen Jones and an 18 year old Xiuhtezcatl “X” Martinez.
The MTV EMA was broadcast live in 81 countries around the world.
Full list of winners below:
BEST AFRICAN ACT
Davido (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) Winner
Distruction Boyz (South Africa)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Nyashinski (Kenya)
Shekinah (South Africa)
BEST ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Camila Cabello (Winner)
Drake
Dua Lipa
Post Malone
BEST VIDEO
Ariana Grande (No Tears left to cry)
Camila Cabello (Havana ft. Young Thug) (Winner)
Childish Gambino (This Is America)
Lil Dicky (Freaky Friday ft. Chris Brown)
The Carters (APES**T)
BEST SONG
Ariana Grande (No tears left to cry)
Bebe Rexha (Meant To Be ft. Florida Georgia Line)
Camila Cabello (Havana ft. Young Thug) – Winner
Drake (God’s Plan)
Post Malone (Rockstar ft. 21 Savage)
BEST POP
Ariana Grande
Camila Cabello
Dua Lipa (Winner)
Hailee Steinfeld
Shawn Mendes
BEST NEW ARTIST
Anne-Marie
Bazzi
Cardi B (Winner)
Hayley Kiyoko
Jessie Reyez
BEST LOOK
Cardi B (Winner)
Dua Lipa
Migos
Nicki Minaj
Post Malone
BEST HIP HOP
Drake
Eminem
Migos
Nicki Minaj (Winner)
Travis Scott
BEST LIVE
Ed Sheeran
Muse
P!nk
Shawn Mendes (Winner)
The Carters
BEST ROCK
5 Seconds Of Summer (Winner)
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
Muse
U2
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Fall Out Boy
Panic! At The Disco (Winner)
The 1975
Thirty Seconds To Mars
Twenty-one pilots
BEST ELECTRONIC
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Marshmello (Winner)
Martin Garrix
The Chainsmokers
BIGGEST FANS
BTS (Winner)
Camila Cabello
Selena Gomez
Shawn Mendes
Taylor Swift
BEST WORLD STAGE
Clean Bandit (MTV Crashes Plymouth, UK 2017)
Charli XCX (MTV Crashes Plymouth, UK 2017)
David Guetta (Trafalgar Square, UK 2017)
Jason Derulo (Isle of MTV Malta 2018)
Post Malone (Wireless Festival, UK 2018)
Migos (Wireless Festival, UK 2018)
J Cole (Wireless Festival, UK 2018)
Nick Jonas (MTV Spotlight @ Hyperplay, Singapore 2018)
Alessia Cara (MTV Spotlight @ Hyperplay, Singapore 2018) (Winner)
BEST PUSH
PRETTYMUCH (October 2017)
Why Don’t We (November 2017)
Grace VanderWaal (December 2017) – Winner
Bishop Briggs (January 2018)
Superorganism (February 2018)
Jessie Reyez (March 2018)
Hayley Kiyoko (April 2018)
Lil Xan (May 2018)
Sigrid (June 2018)
Chloe x Halle (July 2018)
Bazzi (August 2018)
Jorja Smith (September 2018)
BEST US ACT
Ariana Grande
Camila Cabello (Winner)
Cardi B
Imagine Dragons
Post Malone
BEST CANADIAN ACT: Shawn Mendes (Winner)
