The nominations for the 2011 BET Awards were announced in New York Tuesday with Chris Brown leading the pack with 6 nominations followed closely by Lil Wayne with five of his own. Drake, Kanye West, and Rihanna also nabbed four nominations each.  For the second time in the 11 year history of the awards, African artists have been nominated for laurels at the prestigious honours for Black/African American entertainers. Unlike the previous year, nominations for African acts have been separated from the UK acts in the Best International Act category.  The nominee for Best International Act: Africa include  2Face Idibia (Nigeria), D’Banj (Nigeria), D-Black (Ghana), Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Fally Ipupa (Congo DR), and Teargas (South Africa).

The nominees for the annual awards show were announced on 106 & Park by hosts Terrence and Rocsi . The 2011 BET Awards has been set to air live from L.A. on June 26 and would be hosted by comedian Kevin Hart.

Here is the full list of nominees:

Best Female R&B Artist

Beyoncé
Marsha Ambrosius
Keri Hilson
Jennifer Hudson
Rihanna

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist

B.o.B
Drake
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Kanye West

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist

Nicki Minaj
Diamond
Cymphonique
LoLa Monroe

Best Male R&B Artist

Chris Brown
Cee Lo Green
Bruno Mars
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Group

Diddy-Dirty Money
Cali Swag District
N.E.R.D.
New Boyz
Travis Porter

Best Collaboration

B.o.B f/ Hayley Williams – “Airplanes”
Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”
Chris Brown f/ Tyga & Kevin McCall – “Deuces”
Waka Flocka Flame f/ Roscoe Dash & Wale – “No Hands”
Rihanna f/ Drake – “What’s My Name?”
Kanye West f/ Rihanna – “All of the Lights”

Video of the Year

Marsha Ambrosius – “Far Away”
B.o.B. f/ Hayley Williams of Paramore – “Airplanes”
Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”
Keri Hilson – “Pretty Girl Rock”
Willow Smith – “Whip My Hair”
Kanye West f/ Pusha T – “Runaway”

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom
Mr. Boomtown
Chris Robinson
Kanye West
Hype Williams

Best New Artist

J. Cole
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Willow Smith
Wiz Khalifa

Best Gospel

Byron Cage
Deitrick Haddon
Mary Mary
Karen Clark Sheard
BeBe & CeCe Winans

Best Actress

Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana
Kerry Washington

Best Actor

Laz Alonso
Chris Brown
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx

YoungStars Award

Shenell Edmonds
Keke Palmer
Diggy Simmons
Jaden Smith
Willow Smith

Best Movie

Death at a Funeral
For Colored Girls
Takers
The Book of Eli
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?

Sportswoman of the Year

Tamika Catchings
Candice Dupree
Maya Moore
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year

Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Derrick Rose
Michael Vick

Viewer’s Choice Award

Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”
Lil Wayne f/ Cory Gunz – “6 Foot 7 Foot”
Mindless Behavior – “My Girl”
Nicki Minaj f/ Drake – “Moment 4 Life”
Rihanna f/ Drake – “What’s My Name”
Trey Songz f/ Nicki Minaj – “Bottoms Up”

Centric Award

Marsha Ambrosius
Eric Benet
Cee-Lo Green
R. Kelly
Kem

Best International Act: U.K.

VV Brown
Chipmunk
Laura Izibor
Skepta
Tinchy Stryder
Tinie Tempah

Best International Act: Africa

2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
D-Black (Ghana)
Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
Fally Ipupa (Congo DR)
Teargas (South Africa)