2022 Soul Train Awards: Tems Becomes First African Singer to Win Best New Artist [See Full List of Winners]

The Awards keep piling up for Tems, and the Soul Train Award statuette becomes the latest to join her collection. For those who don’t quite know, all of her acclaim has been achieved off the back of two short albums: For Broken Ears (2020) and If Orange Was A Place (2021), and a couple of smashing high-profile collaborations. Since 2020, Tems has worked with Drake, Future, WIzkid, Beyonce, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson and Ari Lennox. That’s beyond remarkable when you remember where she’s from. and that she’s not even been around for up to five years.

Tems won best new artist, beating Long and the red-hot Steve Lacy, among others. She becomes the first African singer to win this category. Last year, Wizkid’s global hit “Essence,” which Tems was featured in won best collaboration.

The 2022 Soul Train Awards held on Saturday 26 November, with American comedian and actor Deon Cole hosting. The ceremony aired on BET, BET Her, VH1, and MTV2. Going into the night, Beyonce and Mary J. Blige were the most nominated, and the former walked home with the most awards on the night.

Other winners include Chris Brown, Lizzo, Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin, Ari Lennox, Mary J. Blige (of course), American girl group Xscape and more. Check out the full list of winners at the 2022 Soul Train Awards below.

Album of the Year

An Evening With Silk Sonic, Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
Away Message (EP), Ari Lennox
Breezy, Chris Brown
Good Morning Gorgeous, Mary J. Blige
Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Jazmine Sullivan
R&B Money, Tank
WINNER: Renaissance, Beyoncé
Special, Lizzo

Song of the Year
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
WINNER: “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox

Video of the Year
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
WINNER: “Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)

Best New Artist
CKay
Coco Jones
Dixson
Doechii
Fireboy DML
Muni Long
Steve Lacy
WINNER: Tems

Best R&B/Soul Female Artist

Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
H.E.R.
WINNER: Jazmine Sullivan
LizzoMary J. Blige
SZA
Tems

Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Babyface
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Charlie Wilson
WINNER: Chris Brown
Giveon
Lucky Daye
PJ Morton

Best Collaboration

“Amazing,” Mary J. Blige feat. DJ Khaled
“Be Like Water,” PJ Morton feat. Stevie Wonder & Nas
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Gotta Move On,” Diddy feat. Bryson Tiller
“Hate Our Love,” Queen Naija & Big Sean
WINNER: “Make Me Say It Again, Girl,” Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers feat. Beyoncé
“Move,” Beyoncé feat. Grace Jones & Tems
“Slow,” Tank feat. J. Valentine

Certified Soul Award
Chaka Khan
Charlie Wilson
Diana Ross
WINNER: Mary J. Blige
Maxwell
PJ Morton
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
T-Pain

The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Church Girl,” Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige
WINNER: “Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
“I Hate U,” SZA
“Last, Last,” Burna Boy
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox

Best Dance Performance
WINNER: “About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Persuasive,” Doechii
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown
“Woman,” Doja Cat

Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

CeCe Winans
Erica Campbell
Fred Hammond
Major.
Marvin Sapp
WINNER: Maverick City Music X Kirk Franklin
Tamela Mann
Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Legend Award: The Time

Lady of Soul Award: Xscape

The Soul Train Awards, every year, honours the best African musical performances and artists in soul, R&B, and Hip Hop.