Messi wins another award after claiming eighth Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi has been handed Inter Miami’s MVP award for the 2023 season.

The MLS club confirmed this on their official website on Sunday.

Messi only joined the club in June after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired.

The 36-year-old has contributed 11 goals and eight assists in his first 14 matches for the club, as he inspired them to their first trophy in the form of the inaugural Leagues Cup.

He was however not able to lift them to the MLS playoffs.

Messi follows in the footsteps of Gonzalo Higuain and Lewis Morgan, who have won the Miami award in the past.

The announcement comes days after the Argentina captain secured a remarkable eighth Ballon d’Or.

Iyabo Ojo expresses gratitude after bagging her first award as a comedian

Nigerian actress and skit-maker, Iyabo Ojo has officially been recognised as a comedian, and this is in light of her bagging her first award as the best online comedian.

The movie star delved into the skit-making industry during the COVID-19 lockdown last year.

She showed how versatile she is by professionally executing different comic acts on social media platform, TikTok, and this amassed for her a new set of large followership.

Iyabo, 42, took to her Instagram page to announce her latest achievement as the Nigerian best online comedian at the Nigerian Choice Awards.

Celebrating, she shared a graphics poster of herself and expressed gratitude for the award.

In her words; “Thank you for this beautiful Award… I’m honoured and grateful”

Colleagues and fans trooped to her comment section to celebrate with her.

@naijapremiumgistyetundebakare wrote “Congratulations momma”

@bolatito___ wrote “Congratulations mama well deserved”

@mamaejiro1 wrote “Congratulations ma you deserve it Boss”

@fa_glams wrote “Award well deserved”

@mimibeauty_hub wrote “TikTok mama… congratulations ma”

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARD UPDATES

Drake’s son Adonis made a surprise appearance at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, joining his father onstage as he won an artist of the decade prize.

The rapper, 34, gripped his son’s shoulder throughout his speech, before hoisting him into the air and saying: “I want to dedicate this award to you.”

The three year old burst into tears, and left the stage clinging to his father’s leg.

Meanwhile, The Weeknd was the night’s big winner, taking home 10 awards.

Among his prizes were best artist; top Hot 100 album for After Hours; and top Hot 100 song for Blinding Lights.

The star, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, more than doubled his career total of Billboard Music Awards, having previously received nine trophies.

image captionThe Weeknd posed with his trophies backstage

Korean pop band BTS also picked up four prizes, winning best group for the second time in three years; and top social artist for the fifth consecutive year.

The band are now just one year short of equalling Justin Bieber’s six-year hold on the social award from 2011- 2016.

Here are some of the other highlights and talking points from the show.

Machine Gun Kelly painted his tongue black

image captionWe hope it’s not a deadly disease

Best rock artist winner Machine Gun Kelly arrived at the ceremony with a rather unusual oral condition: A jet-black tongue. Had he gone overboard with the charcoal toothpaste? Developed a crippling liquorice habit? Been cursed by an evil dentist?

Sadly not. A visit to his Instagram reveals that the musician had someone paint his tongue carefully with a cotton bud.

On the red carpet, he made sure everyone noticed, sticking his tongue out for fans, sticking his tongue out for the cameras, and (hold your stomachs) touching tongues with his girlfriend, Megan Fox.

His reasons are still unclear. Is it a reference to The Rolling Stones Paint It Black? Or is he simply a big fan of giraffes? We may never know.

Pink admitted her childhood crush

image captionPink accepted her prize from Bon Jovi

Pink accepted the Icon Award from rock star Bon Jovi, and confessed she’d been obsessed with the star when she was eight – locking herself in her bedroom for a week after he got married.

“I’m very glad you found lasting love, Jon, but you broke my heart. I take this as an apology,” she laughed, indicating her trophy.

To celebrate her prize, the star performed a career-spanning medley of hits, including Who Know, Get The Party Started and Just Give Me A Reason.

But the highlight was a breathtaking aerial acrobatic routine, performed with her nine-year-old daughter Willow, set to their duet Cover Me In Sunshine.

Complete list of winners

  • Top Artist: The Weeknd
  • Icon Award: Pink
  • Artist of the Decade: Drake
  • Change Maker Award: Trae Tha Truth
  • Top New Artist: Pop Smoke
  • Top Male Artist: The Weeknd
  • Top Female Artist: Taylor Swift
  • Top Duo/Group: BTS
  • Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
  • Top Billboard 100 Artist: The Weeknd
  • Top Streaming Song Artist: Drake
  • Top Song Sales Artist: BTS
  • Top Radio Songs Artist: The Weeknd
  • Top Social Artist: BTS
  • Top R&B Artist: The Weeknd
  • Top R&B Male Artist: The Weeknd
  • Top R&B Female Artist: Doja Cat
  • Top R&B Male Artist: The Weeknd
  • Top R&B Female Artist: Doja Cat
  • Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga
  • Top Christian Artist: Elevation Worship
  • Top Gospel Artist: Kanye West
  • Top Billboard 200 Album: Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
  • Top R&B Album: The Weeknd, After Hours
  • Top Rap Album: Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
  • Top Country Album: Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
  • Top Rock Album: Machine Gun Kelly, Tickets to My Downfall
  • Top Latin Album: Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
  • Top Dance/Electronic Album: Lady Gaga, Chromatica
  • Top Christian Album: Carrie Underwood, My Gift
  • Top Gospel Album: Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1
  • Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar: The Weeknd, Blinding Lights
  • Top Streaming Song: DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, Rockstar
  • Top Selling Song: BTS, Dynamite
  • Top Radio Song: The Weeknd, Blinding Lights
  • Top Collaboration: Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, I Hope
  • Top R&B Song: The Weeknd, Blinding Lights
  • Top Rap Song: DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, Rockstar
  • Top Country Song: Gabby Barrett, I Hope
  • Top Rock Song: AJR, Bang
  • Top Latin Song: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, Dákiti
  • Top Dance/Electric Song: SAINt JHN, Roses (Imanbek Remix)
  • Top Christian Song: Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, Graves Into Gardens
  • Top Gospel Song: Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, Wash Us In The Blood

Pantami Bags Most Outstanding Minister Of The Year Award

The Minister Of Communications And Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has been conferred the Most Outstanding Minister of the Year Award.

It was awarded to him by People and Power Magazine in recognition of policies developed by the Ministry under his supervision.

This was made known in a post via the official Twitter account of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, while highlighting the NIN–SIM Data linkage, the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy as some of the reasons the award was conferred on him.

Pantami was presented with the award at his office on Thursday, May 6, 2021 by a representative of the Magazine.

A tweet from the ministry’s handle @FMoCDENigeria reads; ‘‘The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, @DrIsaPantami has been conferred with the Award as MOST OUTSTANDING MINISTER OF THE YEAR by People and Power Magazine.

The accolade according to the magazine is in recognition of the laudable policies developed by the Ministry under the supervision of the Minister such as the revolutionary NIN–SIM Data linkage, the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy for a #DigitalNigeria, among others.”

Music really isn’t about awards though,Fela never won or was never nominated for grammy.- Femi Kuti

Nigeria’s Afro-beat legend, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti has said that not being nominated for the Grammys award does not mean a musician is not great.

Kuti said this while making reference to his father, Fela and Bob Marley who never got nominated or won Grammys award in his time.

The Afro-beat legend said Music is not about awards but spreading love and giving people will to go through hard times.

On his Twitter page, he wrote: “Music really isn’t about awards though. Fela never won or was never nominated. I don’t think Bob Marley was too.”

“Music is about spreading love, giving people the will to go through the hard times in live, etc and inspiration. Music must bring comfort too.”

He, however, clarified that he is not referring to anyone in particular who got nominated for the Grammys, but himself who has been nominated four times for the award.

“This tweet on Grammys was concerning me saying I have four nominations. And all I’m saying is that it’s not the objective.
“Many GREAT musicians have never been nominated doesn’t mean they are not GREAT. I wasn’t referring to anyone but myself, some have chosen to abuse, or drag others. Pity.” He said.

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