The 2019 BET Awards ceremony to be shown live in South Africa and across Africa for the first time on 24 June at 2am.

For the first time, this year's 2019 BET Awards will be shown live on South African television and across sub-Saharan Africa on BET (DStv 129), with the ceremony that will see its red carpet pre-show broadcast on Monday 24 June from midnight, and the awards show airing from 02:00 on the channel.

The 2019 BET Awards will again be broadcast on the same day of 24 June at 20:00 during prime time on BET.

For the 2019 BET Awards the South African hip hop rapper AKA was nominated in the category for Best International Act, alongside Nigeria's Burna Boy and Mr. Eazi, as well as Dave and Giggs from the United Kingdom, and Aya Nakamura and Dosseh from France.

In the Best New International Act category at the 2019 BET Awards, South Africa's Sho Madjozi received a nomination, alongside Nigeria's Teniola Apata, Headie One and Octavian from the United Kingdom and France's Jokair and Nesly.

Last year in 2018, for the first time, Nigeria's Davido emotionally received his BET Best International Act award live on stage during the global broadcast of the 2018 BET Awards with South Africa's Siya, in traditional Zulu regalia, who received his Best New International Act award during the live red carpet pre-show.

This year Connie Orlando, the executive vice president and head of programming at BET will serve as executive producer for the 2019 BET Awards, along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.

"The BET Awards is a powerful platform for celebrating and elevating black excellence from around the world," says Alex Okosi, executive vice president and managing director of Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and BET International.

"We look forward to honouring this year's Best International Act and Best New International Act during the 2019 BET Awards main and surround programming that will broadcast to a global audience."

Connie Orlando says "18 years ago, we launched the BET Awards and since then we have celebrated cool in ways that can't be duplicated elsewhere".

"From Michael Jackson and James Brown busting dance moves together to Monique paying homage to Beyoncé in an unforgettable dance number, to BET reuniting the Fugees, we have set the tone for what cool looks like."

"This year we are even more so committed to continuing to create the unforgettable moments that have made the BET Awards the preeminent celebration of black culture. From the entire BET family, we congratulate each nominee and look forward to celebrating their talent and contributions at the 2019 BET Awards."


ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 20 photos of the South African media event for the 2019 BET Awards nominees announcement in the Best International Act category.

Being Mary Jane on BET with Gabrielle Union cancelled after 4 seasons; will wrap up with a 2-hour made-for-TV movie in 2018.

Being Mary Jane with Gabrielle Union broadcast in South Africa on BET (DStv 129) has been cancelled and will wrap up with a 2-hour made-for-TV movie in 2018 to tie up the loose ends.

The 4th season of Being Mary Jane finished in America on BET on 19 September and won't be renewed for a 5th season.

BET will however do a 2-hour TV movie to tie up the loose storylines of news anchor Mary Jane Paul.

"Being Mary Jane has been a landmark series not only for BET, but for African American women around the world who saw themselves in Mary Jane, her family, friends and coworkers," says Connie Orlando, the executive vice president and head of programming at BET Networks in a statement about Being Mary Jane's cancellation.

"From the captivating storytelling, to the richly complex characters, to the powerful issues tackled on the series, we remain immensely proud."

"We are grateful to the cast and creators of Being Mary Jane, who have worked tirelessly to bring this world to vivid life over the past 4 seasons. We also thank the many loyal viewers whose hearts and minds were captured every week, and kept Mary Jane trending worldwide."

"We look forward to closing out Mary Jane's journey with a series finale that is sure to blow fans away!"