Nigerian star Burna Boy used a powerful performance of the song, ‘Monsters You Made’ to pay tribute to victims of police brutality in Nigeria during the 2020 BET Hip Hop awards on Tuesday.
Burna Boy performed with a full live band as TV screens showed US civil rights marches and the #EndSARS protests inside Nigeria in the background.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who was featured in the song supported him with an online performance. The set ended with a rousing monologue about the Western pillaging of Africa by Ghanaian author, Ama Atta Aido.
“This is for Tiamiyu Kazeem. This is for Kolade Johnson. This is for everyone that has lost their lives at the hands of SARS and all kinds of police brutality. End police brutality now and end of profiling,” Burna Boy said at the end of the performance as he and his band raised their fists in solidarity.
American rapper Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch scored the most wins on Tuesday night, with Megan taking home awards for Hustler of the Year, Hip Hop Artist of the Year and a shared Best Collaboration with Beyonce for their ‘Savage (Remix)’.
The best new hip-hop artist award was given to Pop Smoke, who was shot dead at the age of 20 in February.
Song of the Year and hip-hop album of the year awards went to Roddy Ricch for his smash hit, ‘The Box’ and Billboard number 1 album, ‘Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial’ respectively.
The BET Hip Hop awards are a spin-off of the main BET Awards which take place earlier in the year.
The ceremony, which celebrates black entertainment, was held online this year due to coronavirus restrictions.
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