Nigerian musician Davido has become the first international act nominee to receive his award live on stage during the main Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.

This is the first time a nominee of the Best International Act category is receiving the award during the live show since the inception of that category in 2010.

The issue of Best International Act nominees receiving their awards at the backstage or before the awards is one that has lingered on for years.

Organisers of the awards, BET has received a lot of flack from artistes and Africans for the decision to award nominees in that manner.

This has, in the past, made artistes like Wizkid, who has won that award twice - in 2012 and 2017 - criticize the organisers of the awards.

He once said in an interview that he doesn’t go for such shows because he “doesn't take nonsense”  from such organisers. 

For the first time, BET decided to change its own rules by allowing nominees of the Best International Act category to receive their award on stage.

During this year’s awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles Sunday night, Davido beat Booba (France), Cassper Nyovest (South Africa), Dadju (France), Distruction, Boyz (South Africa), Fally Ipupa (Congo), J Hus (U.K), Niska (France), Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), Stefflon Don (U.K) and Stormzy (U.K) to win the award.

The Nigerian music star in his acceptance speech sent his condolences to Dbanj, who lost his one-year son on Sunday.

He also used the platform to market Africa: “I want to talk about Africa...my continent has been so blessed to influence so many cultures... I am telling you guys to come to Africa, eat the food, wear the clothes...”

“Let’s collaborate,”  he urged US artistes to work with African artistes.

This is Davido’s second BET Best International Act win. He won the award in 2014.