Tiwa Savage, Ice Prince, Join Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Others to Perform at BETs

Some of Africa’s biggest names in African contemporary music are set to perform as part of the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE for the first time ever. Nigerian singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage, South African Afro-pop duo Mafikizolo and Ghanaian hip hop artist Sarkodie will perform as part of the “Music Around the Globe” presentation on Saturday 28 June. The three artists are all nominated in the “BET Awards” ‘Best International Act: Africa’ category. This will be the first time that Mafikizolo and Tiwa Savage have performed in the United States, and the announcement follows their wins at the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) earlier in the month in the ‘Best Group’ and ‘Best Female’ categories respectively. Sarkodie also took home a MAMA for ‘Best Hip Hop’. In addition, Nigerian hip hop superstar Ice Prince, who won the 2013 BET Award for ‘Best International Act: Africa’, will also take to the stage on Sunday 29 June: he will also present the award for the same category to this year’s winner at the BET Awards. This is the first time international acts have performed as part of the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE since the introduction of international BET Award categories, ‘Best International Act: Africa’ and ‘Best International Act: UK’ in 2010. More chart topping names have been added to the already stellar line-up of performances at the “BET Awards” which will now include Grammy nominated rapper, singer, songwriter and actress Nicki Minaj, nine time Grammy Award Winner John Legend, American singer-songwriter Jhene Aiko and American hip hop singer August Alsina. “106 & Park” hosts Bow Wow and Keshia Chante along with actor Larenz Tate will also present at the awards show. Emmy and Grammy® Award winning comedian Chris Rock will host the “BET Awards” 2014, live on Tuesday 1 July 2014 at 22:00 CAT on BET International from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, CA. In addition, K. Michelle and Mack Wilds will join Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, and Jennifer Hudson performing at STAPLES Center on Sunday 29 June 2014.