South African rapper Sho Madjozi bagged the Best New International Act prize at the annual BET Awards held the Microsoft Theatre, Los Angeles on Sunday, June 23.
The 27-year-old Limpopo-born star was up against Jok'Air, Nesly, Headie One, Octavian and Teni.
"My story is a testament that you can be from any village, in any forgotten part of the world and you can still be a superstar. For the girls that come from where I’m from which is Limpopo, I just want to say, you don’t have to change who you are, you can still be big," said Madjozi during her acceptance speech.
You guys voted for me and we did it!!!!! THANK YOU 😭😭😭🙏🏽 Best new international act!! ⭐️ #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/9rZAFGKJ17
— #LimpopoChampionsLeague (@ShoMadjozi) June 24, 2019
Congratulatory messages flooded in as Mzansi celebrated with the star.
undefined%%%twitter https://twitter.com/ShoMadjozi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShoMadjozifor @BET Best New International Act and for making us proud 🇿🇦 so proud to be Tsonga right now. @BET_Africa pic.twitter.com/T0wnGhph01
— M R F I N E S S E 🌍 (@WorldwideCream)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/ShoMadjozi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShoMadjozi!!!! A BET WINNER!!!! pic.twitter.com/Q7uY0pet10
— DrMusa (@DrMusaMthombeni)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/BETAwards2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BETAwards2019represent girl 😭😭✌✌THE TSONGA village girl from LIMPOPO pic.twitter.com/ENIOUewLG7
— Twarisani Rikhotso (@TwarisaniR)
Sjava won last year and Sho Madjozi this year, without a single drop of English in their music, language isn't a barrier when it comes to good music pic.twitter.com/a4ax2z8xzv
— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) June 24, 2019
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/ShoMadjozi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShoMadjozi- You definitely deserve this one for your talent, passion and always staying true to your essence👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🇿🇦 #BestInternationalAct #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/brf5VVlaDi
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane)
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I just literally shouted out loud.. "Iyaaaa"
🔥🔥🔥🙌 Thank you @ShoMadjozi and Congratulations 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NlpBhHfeiX
— Meneer Jama ♚ (@realDANITO) June 24, 2019
The prestigious event kicked off with a performance by Cardi B, who was in the lead with 7 nominations, picking up two awards for her debut album “Invasion of Privacy”.
The BET Awards recognise winners across 20 categories in a “celebration of black culture.”