Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, others to perform at BET Awards

The BET Awards ‘13 will premiere across Africa on BET International on July 2 at 20:00 CAT.

The BET Awards ’13 is shaping up to be a filled with entertainment with many superstars taking the stage to make it one of the most memorable shows.

Joining the list of top performers at this year’s show is legendary singer, songwriter, musician and producer, Stevie Wonder; multi-platinum artist, Snoop Dogg, a.k.a Snoop Lion; as well as best selling female acts: Mariah Carey, Nicky Minaj and Ciara.

This year, the activity and excitement expands with the first ever BET Experience at L.A. LIVE! This three-day festival is expected to be filled with comedy, gospel, and soulful music concerts, seminars, film screenings, “106 & PARK” tapings and so much more; and will build anticipation for the finest BET Awards show yet.

Hosted by actor and comedian, Chris Tucker, the BET Awards ‘13 will take place at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 30. The show will also include exciting performances by R. Kelly, Miguel, India Arie, Chris Brown, and Kendrick Lamar.

Hollywood actresses: Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Paula Patton and La La Anthony are among the talented line-up of presenters.

Miami Heat basketball star, Dwyane Wade, will be honoured with the Humanitarian Award; while R&B singer/songwriter, Charlie Wilson, will receive the prestigious Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.

Over the course of his career, Stevie Wonder has amassed 32 number one singles, and has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

He has demonstrated humanitarian and philanthropic leadership and is universally acknowledged as one of the most influential musicians in the world.

Wonder has previously been honoured by BET Networks for his outstanding contributions to music having received BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into BET’s Walk of Fame, and awarded the BET Honors Musical Arts Award last year.

Entertainment icon and multi-platinum artist, Snoop Dogg, a.k.a Snoop Lion, is one of the most well-known and respected hip-hop artists of all-time, with over 30 million albums sold worldwide. In 2012, he re-invented himself under the new alias, Snoop Lion, and released his twelfth studio album, a reggae album, Reincarnated, featuring other prominent artists including Drake, Akon, Busta Rhymes and Chris Brown.

Mariah Carey, the best-selling female artiste of all time, with eighteen Billboard #1 singles and over 200 million albums sold, is expected to deliver the most anticipated performance of the year. As a singer/songwriter/producer, Carey has defined modern pop history with her prolific song-writing, five-octave vocal range and global success.

Hip-hop star, Nicki Minaj, is currently the most charted female rapper in history, with 44 Billboard Hot 100 hits.

Minaj has sold over 60 million singles as a featured artist alone, 20 million singles as a lead artist and almost 5 million albums worldwide. She is the first female rapper to chart in five countries and have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.

GRAMMY® Award-winning performer, Ciara, has had tremendous commercial success. She’s sold over seven million albums worldwide and has had eight top ten singles on Billboard’s Hot 100.

In addition to performing at this year’s BET Awards ’13, Ciara will debut her newest video “I’m Out” ft. Nicki Minaj during the BET Awards Pre-Show.“

The Pre-Show is hosted by Bow Wow and Friends on Sunday 30 June.

For the fourth year in a row, BET Music Matters artists will have the distinction of gracing the BET Awards stage.

BET’s Music Matters will again cast the spotlight on new talents who are on their way to being the next BET superstars.

Austin Brown and Curtis Fields will take the stage during BET Awards ’13 to give the world a sneak peek of their talents.

Fans can join the conversation about the BET Awards ’13 on social media by following the awards on multiple social media platforms, including: Twitter and Instagram @BETAwards, using the hashtag: #BETAwards; on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheBETAwards and on Tumblr at betawards.tumblr.com.