The NAACP Image Awards, honouring Black achievements in motion pictures, television, music, books, and podcasts, is set to happen on March 16 in a star-studded ceremony to be broadcast on BET and CBS.
By Emmanuel Okoro
The 55th National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) Image Awards have announced their nominations, featuring some of Africa’s brightest stars. The prestigious awards, honouring Black achievements in motion pictures, television, music, books, and podcasts, is set to happen on March 16th in a star-studded ceremony to be broadcast on BET and CBS.
The Outstanding International Song category sees fierce competition with Davido’s “Unavailable”, Asake’s “Amapiano”, Burna Boy’s “City Boys”, Tems’ “Me & U”, and Libianca’s “People Remix” all receiving nominations. While Burna Boy and Davido garnered nods in the Outstanding Male Artiste category, Tems received a nomination in the Outstanding Female Artiste category.
Burna Boy’s seventh studio album, I Told Them… earned him a nomination in the Outstanding Album category. Moreso, his 2023 single, “Sittin’ On Top of the World” featuring 21 Savage, was recognised in both the Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song, and Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration (Contemporary) categories.
Davido, along with Lojay, also snagged nominations in the Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album and Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration (Contemporary) categories for their contributions to Chris Brown’s “Sensational”.
Also, Emmy Award winner, Ayo Edebiri, and the talented Ego Nwodim were acknowledged in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category for their performances in Hulu’s The Bear and NBC’s Saturday Night Live, respectively. Edebiri also secured an additional nomination in the Outstanding Guest Performance for her acting on ABC’s Abbott Elementary.
Screenwriter and producer, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, stands tall with a nomination in the Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series category for creating NBC’s Found. NAACP also recognised the brilliant Nigerian-American director, writer, and producer, Amy Aniobi, who earned a nod in the Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series category for directing credits on Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest.
Nigerian storyteller and photographer, Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström’s novel, Everything is Not Enough, earned a nomination in the Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction category, while author, Ani Kayode Somtochukwu and British-Ghanaian writer, Krystle Zara Appiah received nominations in the Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author category for their books, And Then He Sang a Lullaby and Rootless, respectively.
In the visual realm, CJ “Fiery” Obasi’s Mami Wata and British-Nigerian Misan Harriman’s The After also got nods in the Outstanding International Motion Picture and Outstanding Short–Form (Live Action) categories respectively, affirming the global impact of African and African diasporan storytelling.
Check out the full nominations list here, vote for your preferred winner here.