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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Nigerian artistes, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, and Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems, won two awards each at the 2022 American Music Awards (AMAs).
The 50th edition of the event held on Sunday, at Microsoft Theater, California.
Wizkid made history after beating fellow nominees, Burna Boy, CKay, Tems, and Fireboy to become the first recipient of the Favourite Afrobeats Artiste of the Year Award.
His Tems-assisted hit single, Essence, also bagged the Favourite R n B song beating off competition from Beyonce’s “Break My Soul”; Muni Long’s “Hrs And Hrs”; Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars & Anderson Paak’s “Smokin Out The Window”; and SZA’s “I Hate U”.
For the first time, the Favourite Afrobeats Artiste category was introduced into the award show.
His collaboration with Tems on Essence, also won in the Favourite R n B Song category at the event.
Essence continues to clinch awards two years after its release in October 2020, as the 11th track on Wizkid’s fourth studio album, Made in Lagos.
American singer, Taylor Swift, was the biggest winner of the night, clinching six awards in total, including the 2022 Artiste of the Year. With the wins, she extends her record as the most-awarded artist in AMA history, with 40 wins in total.
See full list of winners below:
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift – WINNER
New Artist of the Year
Dove Cameron – WINNER
Collaboration of the Year
Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix” – WINNER
Favourite Male Pop Artist
Harry Styles – WINNER
Favourite Female Pop Artist
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Favourite Pop Duo or Group
BTS – WINNER
Favourite Pop Album
Taylor Swift, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” – WINNER
Favourite Pop Song
Harry Styles, “As It Was” – WINNER
Favourite Music Video
Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” – WINNER
Favourite Male Country Artist
Morgan Wallen -WINNER
Favourite Female Country Artist
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Favourite Country Group or Duo
Dan & Shay -WINNER
Favourite Male Hip-Hop Artist
Kendrick Lamar -WINNER
Favourite Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj -WINNER
Favourite Hip-Hop Song
Future ft. Drake & Tems, “Wait For U” -WINNER
Favourite Male R n B Artist
Chris Brown -WINNER
Favourite Female R n B Artist
Beyonce -WINNER
Favourite R n B Song
Wizkid ft Tems, “Essence” – WINNER
Favourite Rock Artist
Machine Gun Kelly – WINNER
Favourite Rock Song
Måneskin, “Beggin’” – WINNER
Favourite Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny – WINNER
Favourite Female Latin Artist
Anitta – WINNER
Favourite Afrobeats Artist
Wizkid – WINNER
Favourite K-Pop Artist
BTS – WINNER