Beyonce has been named entertainer of the year at the 50th annual NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) Image Awards ceremony that highlighted works by entertainers and writers of colour.

After Beyonce accepted the award on Saturday night at the Dolby Theatre, the superstar paid homage to the people who were nominated in the same category as her.

She beat LeBron James, Regina King, Chadwick Boseman and Ryan Coogler.

Beyonce released a joint album last year with her husband, Jay-Z, called Everything is Love.

The prolific singer also paid tribute to historically black colleges and universities, as well as the dance troupes and step teams at HBCUs during her groundbreaking two-hour Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival performance.

She also performed Lift Every Voice and Sing, which is known as the national black anthem, at the festival and donated $US100,000 ($140,000) to four black universities shortly after her performance.

The cast of Black Panther enjoy their success at the 50th NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood. Photo: Getty

Black Panther was awarded for best motion picture at the awards.

The Marvel blockbuster hit beat out BlacKkKlansman, Crazy Rich Asians, If Beale Street Could Talk and The Hate U Give.

The superhero film was a box-office hit domestically and a cultural phenomenon.

It earned $US700 million domestically during its theatrical run.

.@S_C_ is a legend. At this critical time in our history, he has become a driving force. As one of the founders of the “Reform Alliance,” a new initiative dedicated to changing the unjust laws that rule the lives of the millions of #Americans, we celebrate him. pic.twitter.com/EaMyVcxPAi

— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) March 31, 2019

Jay-Z received the President’s Award for the rapper’s public service achievements.

The rapper quoted Abraham Lincoln after he accepted his award and dedicated his trophy to his 93-year-old grandmother Hattie White, saying “She’s so full of life.”

Jay-Z was recognised for his achievements through his Shawn Carter Foundation and serving as co-founder of the REFORM Alliance.

He executive-produced the documentaries Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story and Time: The Kalief Browder Story along with an animated documentary short called The War on Drugs is an Epic Fail, which highlighted the unfavourable treatment of black and Latino people when it comes to drug-related crimes.