Multi-award-winning Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, 61, has emerged NET Honours Class of 2022 Most Popular Celebrity in the rest of Africa.
Since the inception of NET Honours in 2013 by Netng, the globally recognised and prestigious award has been committed to honoring celebrities and public figures that have contributed to shaping conversations in the Nigerian entertainment space.
Announcing the winner of NET Honours Class of 2022 categories on Friday, July 1, 2022, Angelique Kidjo emerged the winner of the Most Popular Celebrity in the rest of Africa, beating Christina Matovu, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, and Peace Hyde, who were also nominated for the award.
Data for NET Honours is sourced from a comprehensive database of over eight million users who have engaged with Netng via the websites, social media accounts, and email newsletters within a 12-month calendar period.
“Building on the success of NET Honours in the last six years, we believe it is also important to recognise the great works of other creatives who mostly work behind the scenes and rarely get the commendation they deserve,” says Michael Orodare, the Editorial Lead at ID Africa.
The verified data from the platform revealed that Angelique Kidjo has enmassed widespread popularity among Nigerians between June 2021 and May 2022.
Angélique Kidjo’s growing fame in the Nigerian entertainment space can be attributed to beating some of Nigerians’ favourite celebrities in winning the Grammy.
At the 2022 Grammys award, the Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo won her 5th Grammy award for her album, Mother Nature, in the Best Global Music Album category beating Femi Kuti And Made Kuti’s Legacy +, and WizKid’s Made In Lagos: Deluxe Edition, who were also nominated in the Best Global Music Album category.
In 2020, Angélique Kidjo also beats Burna Boy to win the ‘World Best Music Album’ award. Following her consistent win in the Grammy over Nigerian favourite celebrities like Burna Boy and Wizkid, some young Nigerian entertainment fan criticised her and the Recording Academy – Grammy organisers.
Some critics claimed that Wizkid’s ‘Made In Lagos’ album which amassed one billion streams in less than a year should have won the ‘Best Global Music Album’. However, Angelique Kidjo highlighted during her speech for her 5th Grammy win that “We are all Africans.”
Speaking on the objectives of NET Honours, Femi Falodun, CEO of ID Africa, owners of NETng, Neusroom, 234Star, and Orin, said,
“The platform [NET Honours] is a valuable source of insights for brands, organisations and governments that are trying to understand young Africans and their digital media consumption habits.”
See the complete list of winners here.
