American satellite and cable television Black entertainment television which has in the past received backlash from African artistes including FUSE ODG and Yemi Alade for alleged discrimination of Africans, is once again on the spotlight.
A few days ago the television released the nominees for the 2017 BET awards that are scheduled to be held at the Microsoft theatre in Los Angeles.
No artiste from East Africa made it as a nominee for the Best International Africa act which is being dominated by acts from South Africa and Nigeria.
However, Wasafi’s Rayvanny has been nominated for the international viewers choice award alongside Skip Marley of Jamaica, Daniel Ceaser of Canada,Jorja Smith of the UK , Remi of Australia and and Chagmo of South Korea.
However, on the BET website where the fans are supposed to vote for their favourite nominees, the act which Rayvanny has been nominated in, is missing .
Fans have been asking Rayvanny how they can vote for him with Rayvanny urging them that his image is on 141 of the 146 nominees but a closer look at the site reveals that only 119 nominees are listed.
On the BET Africa Instagram handle , the station has congratulated all nominees from Africa with the exception of Rayvanny.
This is not the first time BET has been on the spotlight for their discrimination of African artistes,
In 2013, it emerged that when ICE prince of Nigeria was receiving his best international act Africa award, that part was only aired in UK and Europe.
A year later in 2014, the station was once again on the spotlight after emerged that Nigerian singer Davido who won the best international act Africa award category, was awarded way before the main ceremony began.
In 2015 several artistes came including Yemi Alade and Fuse ODG of Ghana boycotted attending the award ceremony citing discrimination of Africans.
Dear @BET, the reason why I didn't come is because you give our awards backstage! You have no respect for our hard work and achievements
— Fuse ODG (@FuseODG) June 28, 2015
The award organizers have never responded to the allegations and neither have they clarified why the international viewers choice category which was in 2015 scooped by Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo is missing from the list.
