Kanye West is listed as one of the five acts to be honored by the BET (Black Entertainment Television). Kanye is being honored with the visionary award.

Others listed to receive an award on that night include R&B star Usher, whose hits include Yeah and Confessions, will receive the music award for his two-decade career.

Phylicia Rashad, best known in the UK as The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable, is to receive the theatrical arts award.

Her credits on Broadway and in regional theatre include August: Osage County, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Medea and Raisin in the Sun, for which she won a Tony Award.

Director of the National Museum of African Art, Dr Johnnetta Betsch Cole, will pick up the education award.

The BET Awards were established in 2001 to honor African Americans and other minorities working in multiple disciplines.

Past honourees include Dr Maya Angelou, who received the literary arts award in 2012 and Whitney Houston, who received the entertainers’ award in 2010.

The 2015 awards will be presented by Wayne Brady, and will take place at the Warner Theatre in Washington on 24 January and will be shown on the BET channel on 23 February.