Los Angeles  - Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce won major honours at the NAACP Image Awards Thursday night, where The Secret Life of Bees was named best picture.

But both Rihanna and Chris Brown stayed away from the most prestigious African-American awards show of the year, which took place less less than a week after Brown,
19, was arrested for making criminal threats against Rihanna, 20.

Will Smith and Rosario Dawson took the top actor and actress awards for Seven Pounds, while Hudson took home trophies for outstanding new artist, best album and best collaboration.

Beyonce was named best female artist and Jamie Foxx was best male artist. Rap mogul Sean Combs was named best TV actor for his role in Raisin in the Sun. Slumdog Millionaire won the prize for outstanding independent motion picture.

The awards honour individuals as well as projects that promote diversity in the arts, literature, cinema, recording and television. The ceremony was hosted by actress Halle Berry and performer-writer Tyler Perry. (dpa)