Singer, Tiwa Savage has become the first Nigerian female artist to win the MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMAs) in the Best African Act category as well
Singer, Tiwa Savage has become the first Nigerian female artist to win the MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMAs) in the Best African Act category as well as the first African female to bag the award. The Afro-pop singer snatched the record-breaking award at the 2018 MTV EMAs held on Sunday at the Bilbao Exhibition Center, Bilbao, Spain with several music stars across the world in attendance.
In 2005, the African act category was infused into the MTV EMA to enhance musical alliances across borders, and promote cultural integrations. Until Tiwa’s win, three Nigerians had taken the award home including 2Baba in 2005, D’banj in 2007 and 2012; and Davido in 2017. In 2018, 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.
Celebrating the award, the mother of one took to her Instagram page to dedicate the win to African women and aspiring young girls. She said, “Almighty God, you are so faithful. My savage soldiers did it for me. You have stuck with me through the roller coasters. Thank you. To my amazing team, this is just the beginning. African women, this is for us. I have been through a lot but I have kept my head up and weathered the storm because I know some little girl somewhere is dreaming like I did.”
The biggest winner at the awards night was the Cuban-American singer, 21 year old Camila Cabello. She scooped four awards, winning “Best Song,” “Best Artist,” “Best Video” and “Best U.S. Act”.
Here is a full list of 2018 MTV EMA winners:
BEST ARTIST
Camila Cabello
BEST VIDEO
Camila Cabello – “Havana” ft. Young Thug
BEST SONG
Camila Cabello – “Havana” ft. Young Thug
BEST POP
Dua Lipa
BEST NEW
Cardi B
BEST LOOK
Nicki Minaj
BEST HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj
BEST LIVE
Shawn Mendes
BEST ROCK
5 Seconds of Summer
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Panic! At The Disco
BEST ELECTRONIC
Marshmello
BIGGEST FANS
BTS
BEST WORLD STAGE
Alessia Cara, MTV Spotlight at Hyperplay, Singapore 2018
BEST PUSH
Grace VanderWaal (December 2017)
BEST US ACT (WORLDWIDE ACT*)
Camila Cabello
GLOBAL ICON AWARD
Janet Jackson
