The winners of the first two nights of the NAACP Image Awards have been revealed, celebrating Black excellence across television, music, film, and literature. The prestigious awards, organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), recognize outstanding achievements by Black artists and creators.
Night 1 and 2 Highlights
The first two nights of the Image Awards included notable wins in various categories, with prominent figures such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Davido, and Wizkid taking home awards for their contributions to music.
Music Category Winners
- Outstanding Male Artist: Chris Brown
- Outstanding Female Artist: Beyoncé
- Outstanding International Song: “Hmmm” by Chris Brown feat. Davido
- Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary): Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz for “Piece of My Heart”
- Outstanding Song – Hip-Hop/Rap: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
- Outstanding Album: “Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé
These wins highlight the influence of global artists like Wizkid and Davido in shaping contemporary music, particularly in Afrobeats’ growing presence in international markets.
Television and Film Awards
In the television and motion picture categories, several productions and actors were recognized for their performances:
- Outstanding International Motion Picture: “Emilia Pérez”
- Outstanding Directing in a Documentary: Dawn Porter for Luther: Never Too Much
- Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie, or Limited Series): Leah Sava Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series: Taraji P. Henson (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series: Samuel L. Jackson (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist)
These wins underscore the diverse and compelling storytelling coming from Black creators, with Netflix and Disney+ dominating in multiple categories.
Podcast and Literature Recognitions
Podcasts and literary works were also highlighted at the awards. Winners included:
- Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form: Stranded
- Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction: One of Us Knows: A Thriller by Alyssa Cole
- Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography: Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America by Joy-Ann Reid
These categories reflect the continued importance of storytelling across different mediums, providing platforms for important discussions on history, identity, and culture.
Looking Ahead
The NAACP Image Awards will continue with the Creative Arts ceremony on Friday, leading up to the main event on Saturday. As anticipation builds, fans eagerly await the announcement of the final winners in other major categories.
The success of artists like Wizkid, Davido, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé further cements the impact of Black culture on a global scale, with music, film, and literature playing a crucial role in representation and storytelling.
Stay tuned for more updates as the NAACP Image Awards continue to unfold, celebrating Black excellence across industries.
