R&B star Pharrell, rapper Nicki Minaj and newcomer August Alsina led the winners at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards on Sunday, which also honoured veteran soul singer Lionel Richie.

Pharrell kicked off the show with Come Get It Bae and won two awards, including best male R&B/pop artist. Beyoncé was named best female R&B/pop singer, and closed the show with a sultry performance of Partition with husband Jay Z. The couple also won best collaboration for Drunk in Love.

Richie, 65, received the lifetime achievement award for his prolific career as part of Motown group The Commodores and as a solo artiste.

When you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it

“Soul is a feeling, not a colour. Talent is a god given gift and not a category, and out of the box is the magical place where true talent goes to thrive and breathe,” Richie said as he accepted the award.

John Legend, Ledisi and Yolanda performed Richie’s classic love songs Hello, Still and The Commodores’ Brick House and Jesus is Love. Richie sang Easy and All Night Long.

Pharrell Williams performing Come Get It Babe.

Lionel Richie accepting the lifetime achievement award.

The BET awards, held in Los Angeles, celebrates black musicians, actors and athletes. It is hosted by cable TV network Black Entertainment Television, part of Viacom Inc., and the show was preceded by violence at unofficial parties ahead of the show in which one person was killed.

New Orleans singer Alsina was named best new artiste and Lil Wayne’s rap collective Young Money scored best group.

Drake won best male hip hop artiste, but was not available to collect his award. Minaj was named best female hip hop artiste and threw a little dig at other rappers by saying: “When you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it.”

Comedian Chris Rock hosted the show, throwing jokes and jibes and handing out chicken and waffles to the audience. The almost four-hour ceremony toplined high-profile performances from some of the music world’s biggest names.

Usher referenced his 20-year career with a medley of his hits, Minaj performed Pills N’ Potions on a stage with giant psychedelic mushrooms and R&B star Chris Brown joined Lil Wayne to perform Loyal.

Australian newcomer Iggy Azalea joined rapper T.I. to perform No Mediocre and her hit single Fancy. The show also served up 1990s nostalgia with R&B groups Troop, Color Me Badd and Silk singing a medley of classic hits.

Oscar-winning historical drama 12 Years a Slave swept the film categories with Oscar-winning newcomer Lupita Nyong’o named best actress and Chiwetel Ejiofor named best actor. Neither were on hand to accept their awards.

Civil rights activist Myrlie Evers-Williams accepted the humanitarian award commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act signed into law in 1964.

Sportswoman and sportsman of the year went to tennis star Serena Williams and basketball player Kevin Durant respectively.