The East African region covers over six countries, and in all these, music is popularly created in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, despite being quite successful in music, it's only Uganda's Eddy Kenzo and Tanzania's Rayvanny who have ever won the prestigious BET Awards.
The two artists recently boasted about their win in South Sudan, emphasizing that they are the only champions in the region.
"In case you don't know, we are the only BET winners in East Africa. Just in case someone doesn't know that we are the only champions, we have the honor and deserve respect." The two artists boasted as they exchanged handshakes and hugs.
In June 2015, Kenzo was honored with the BET Award for "Viewer's Choice Best New International Artist." He was the first East African artist to win a BET Award of any kind.
The award was a reward for the international success of his song "Sitya Loss."
Rayvanny won a BET Award two years after Eddy Kenzo. He won the BET Viewer's Choice Best International Act award in 2017. This made him the second East African artist to do so, after Uganda's Eddy Kenzo in 2015.
Different artists, notably Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, and Radio and Weasel, have been nominated before but have never won the award.