I had wanted to stay out of this year’s Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards which came off on June 30 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and the ‘brouhaha’ that Africa for the first time received her award on stage. Last year after Sarkodie won Ghana’s first BET Award – Best International (Africa) – with Nigerian musician Wizkid, many cried foul that once again Africa had been relegated to the background. Why did we say Africa had been relegated to the background? The award was presented ‘backstage’ and many felt African artistes deserved better. Organizers should treat them like other artistes and present their awards to them on stage, it was argued by some pundits! Rapper D-Black, who was nominated for the 2011 edition of the awards, told Myjoyonline.com in an interview after last year’s edition that “out of all the 20 categories [of the awards], Africa [has] only one [nomination] and they can spare us just three minutes for us to receive the award [on stage]. It is sad that artistes fly to the US just to receive the award backstage.” Well it seems the huge outcry yielded dividends this year – depending on which angle you are looking at the results from – because Africa received her award on stage! This year, the award was a competition between Ghanaian duo R2Bees, Ice Prince (Nigeria), 2Face Idibia (Nigeria), Toya Delazy (South Africa), Radio and Weasel (Uganda), and Donald (South Africa). Ice Prince won. Ghanaian actor, model and presenter Samuel Osei Sarpong presented Ice Prince with his award on stage. In great show of respect, the Nigerian invited the others contenders whom he beat to the award, with the exception of 2Face, who was not at the awards, to join him on stage and share in his glory.