Lira nominated for BET award

Johannesburg – SAMA award winner Lira has been nominated for a BET (Black Entertainment Television) award in the Best International Act in Africa category.

South African singer Lira will be competing against artists from other African countries including Wizkid from Nigeria, Camp Mulla from Kenya and Sarkodie from Ghana.

The BET Awards 2012 will be hosted by Samuel L Jackson, which is a departure from past years when comedians like Mo'Nique and Kevin Hart hosted the show. BET's President of Music Programming and Specials Stephen G Hill is confident, however, that The Avengers star will more than fit the bill.
 
"We are massively excited about having Sam Jackson, the world's biggest box office star, host The BET Awards 12," said Hill. "His wit, presence and gigantic personality are the perfect match for our show."

TopTV
 
Members of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will be receiving the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other nominees include Kanye West, who is leading the pack with seven, followed by Beyoncé and Jay-Z with six and five respectively. The extended Carter family dominate the Video of The Year category with "Countdown", "Love On Top", "Otis" and "N*ggas In Paris".

The 2012 BET Awards will take place on 1 July at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium, with performances from Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj.

TopTV viewers can tune in to BET (channel 190) on 3 July at 20:00 to watch the awards ceremony.
 
The full list of 2012 BET Awards nominees:
 
Best Female R&B Artist
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna
 
Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher
 
Best Group
Bad Meets Evil
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
Mindless Behavior
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
 
Best Collaboration
Beyoncé featuring J Cole, "Party"
Big Sean featuring Kanye West & Roscoe Dash, "Marvin & Chardonnay"
DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne, "I'm On One"
Drake featuring Lil Wayne & Tyga, "The Motto"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"
Wale featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb"
 
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Big Sean
Drake
J Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy
 
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Diamond
Nicki Minaj
Brianna Perry
Trina
 
Video of the Year
Beyoncé, "Countdown"
Beyoncé, "Love On Top"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West), "N---as in Paris"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"
Usher, "Climax"
 
Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé & Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Brown & Godfrey Tabarez
Kanye West
Hype Williams
 
Best New Artist
A$AP Rocky
Big Sean
Diggy
Future
Meek Mill
 
Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams
Kim Burrell
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
 
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Viola Davis
Taraji P Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana
 
Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Idris Elba
Kevin Hart
Denzel Washington
 
Young Stars Award
Astro
Diggy
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith
 
Best Movie
Good Deeds
Jumping the Broom
Laugh at My Pain
Red Tails
The Help
 
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Skylar Diggins
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
 
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
 
Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award
Beyoncé, "Love on Top"
Chris Brown, "Turn Up the Music"
Drake featuring Lil Wayne & Tyga, "The Motto"
Mindless Behavior,  "Hello"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"
Wale featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb"
 
Centric Award
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese
 
Best International Act: Africa
Camp Mulla (Kenya)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
Mokobe (Mali)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
 
Best International Act: UK
Estelle
Labrinth
Emeli Sand?
Sway
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