MTV EMAs: Rema Wins Big as Burna Boy Loses Three Awards

Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, alongside international acts Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, emerged winners at the 2023 MTV EMAs.

Rema secured the inaugural “Best Afrobeats” accolade at the MTV Europe Music Awards held this year.

This new category, “Best Afrobeats,” was introduced at the 2023 event.

The initial nominees included Aya Nakamura from France and Nigerian artistes such as Asake, Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema.

Despite the cancellation of the award ceremony due to the Israel-Hamas war, the organizers disclosed the winners on Sunday, November 6, 2023.

Rema was honored as the “Best Afrobeats” winner, while Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz emerged victorious in the ‘Best African Act’ category.

Nonetheless, Rema and Selena Gomez’s collaboration “Calm Down” lost in the “Best Collaboration” category to Jung Kook and Latto’s track “Seven.”

Grammy-winning Nigerian artiste Burna Boy experienced disappointment by missing out on three awards, which included “Best Afrobeats,” “Best African Act,” and “Best Live Performer.”

This occurred shortly after he received no awards from the seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

American singer Taylor Swift led the list of winners at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards with three wins in the categories of Best Video, Best Artiste, and Best Live.

The event was held on Sunday, November 5, at the Paris Nord Villepinte, France.

See the complete list below:

Best Song

• Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red”
• WINNER: Jung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven”
• Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
• SZA – “Kill Bill”
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
• Rema, Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

Best Video

• Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion – “Bongos”
• Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
• Little Simz – “Gorilla”
• Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
• SZA – “Kill Bill”
• WINNER: Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

Best Artist

• Doja Cat
• Miley Cyrus
• Nicki Minaj
• Olivia Rodrigo
• SZA
• WINNER: Taylor Swift

Best Collaboration

• Central Cee x Dave – “Sprinter”
• David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray – “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”
• WINNER: KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG”
• Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage – “Creepin’”
• PinkPantheress, Ice Spice – “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2”
• Rema, Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

Best New

• Coi Leray
• FLO
• Ice Spice
• WINNER: Peso Pluma
• PinkPantheress
• Reneé Rapp

Best Pop

• WINNER: Billie Eilish
• Dua Lipa
• Ed Sheeran
• Miley Cyrus
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Taylor Swift

Best Afrobeats

• Asake
• Aya Nakamura
• Ayra Starr
• Burna Boy
• Davido
• WINNER: Rema

Best Rock

• Arctic Monkeys
• Foo Fighters
• WINNER: Måneskin
• Metallica
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Killers

Best Latin

• WINNER: Anitta
• Bad Bunny
• KAROL G
• Peso Pluma
• ROSALÍA
• Shakira

Best K-pop

• FIFTY FIFTY
• WINNER: Jung Kook
• NewJeans
• SEVENTEEN
• Stray Kids
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Best Alternative

• Blur
• Fall Out Boy
• WINNER: Lana Del Rey
• Paramore
• Thirty Seconds to Mars
• YUNGBLUD

Best Electronic

• Alesso
• Calvin Harris
• WINNER: David Guetta
• Swedish House Mafia
• Peggy Gou
• Tiësto

Best Hip-Hop

• Cardi B
• Central Cee
• Lil Wayne
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Metro Boomin
• WINNER: Nicki Minaj
• Travis Scott

Best R&B

• Chlöe
• WINNER: Chris Brown
• Steve Lacy
• Summer Walker
• SZA
• Usher

Best Live

• Beyoncé
• Burna Boy
• Ed Sheeran
• Måneskin
• SZA
• WINNER: Taylor Swift
• The Weeknd

Best Push

• November 2022: Flo Milli
• December 2022: Reneé Rapp
• January 2023: Sam Ryder
• February 2023: Armani White
• March 2023: FLETCHER
• WINNER: April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Biggest Fans

• Anitta
• Billie Eilish
• BLACKPINK
• Jung Kook
• Nicki Minaj
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Selena Gomez
• Taylor Swift

Best Group

• aespa
• FLO
• Jonas Brothers
• Måneskin
• NewJeans
• OneRepublic
• SEVENTEEN
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER

2023 MTV EMA Best Local Act Nominees:

• Best African Act
• Asake
• Burna Boy
• Libianca
• Tyler ICU
• WINNER: Diamond Platnumz

Best Asia Act

• WINNER: BE:FIRST
• BRIGHT
• Moria
• Tiara Andini
• TREASURE

Best Australian Act

• Budjerah
• G Flip
• WINNER: Kylie Minogue
• The Kid LAROI
• Troye Sivan

Best Brasilian Act

• Anavitoria
• Kevin O Chris
• Luisa Sonza
• Manu Gavassi
• WINNER: Matue

Best Canadian Act

• Charlotte Cardin
• Drake
• Jamie Fine
• WINNER: Shania Twain
• The Beaches

Best Caribbean Act

• Eladio Carrion
• Mora
• Myke Towers
• Rauw Alejandro
• WINNER: Young Miko

Best Dutch Act

• WINNER: FLEMMING
• Idaly
• Kriss Kross Amsterdam
• S10
• Zoë Tauran

Best French Act

• Aime Simone
• Aya Nakamura
• WINNER: Bigflo & Oli
• Louane
• Ninho
• Slimane

Best German Act

• Apache 207
• AYLIVA
• WINNER: Kontra K
• Luciano
• Nina Chuba
• Ski Aggu

Best Hungarian Act

• WINNER: ajsa luna
• Analog Balaton
• Beton.Hofi
• Co Lee
• Hundred Sins

Best India Act

• Dee MC
• DIVINE
• Mali
• WINNER: Tsumyoki
• When Chai Met Toast

Best Italian Act

• Annalisa
• Elodie
• Lazza
• WINNER: Måneskin
• The Kolors

Best Israeli Act

• Anna Zak
• Liad Meir
• Noa Kirel
• Nunu
• Shira Margalit

Best Latin America North Act

• Danna Paola
• WINNER: Kenia Os
• Kevin Kaarl
• Siddhartha
• Natanael Cano

Best Latin America Central Act

• Blessd
• WINNER: Feid
• Manuel Turizo
• Ryan Castro
• Sebastian Yatra

Best Latin America South Act

• Bizarrap
• Duki
• Fito Paez
• WINNER: Lali
• Nicki Nicole

Best New Zealand Act

• BENEE
• JessB
• Jolyon Petch
• L.A.B.
• WINNER: SIX60

Best Nordic Act

• Alessandra
• WINNER: Käärijä
• Loreen
• Swedish House Mafia
• Zara Larsson

Best Polish Act

• WINNER: Doda
• Kasia Nosowska
• Mrozu
• Sanah
• Vito Bambino

Best Portuguese Act

• Bárbara Bandeira
• WINNER: Bispo
• Carolina Deslandes
• Marisa Liz
• PIRUKA

Best Spanish Act

• Abraham Mateo
• Álvaro de Luna
• Lola Índigo
• Quevedo
• WINNER: Samantha Hudson

Best Swiss Act

• Danitsa
• WINNER: Gjon’s Tears
• KT Gorique
• Monet192
• Stress

Best UK & Ireland Act

• Calvin Harris
• Central Cee
• PinkPantheress
• Raye
• Sam Smith
• WINNER: Tom Grennan

Best US Act

• Doja Cat
• WINNER: Nicki Minaj
• Olivia Rodrigo
• SZA
• Taylor Swift