Telecel Ghana Music Awards | |
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Current: 2022 Ghana Music Awards | |
Awarded for | Outstanding work in the Ghanaian music industry |
Country | Ghana |
Presented by | CharterHouse |
First awarded | 1999 |
Website | https://ghanamusicawards.com/ |
Television/radio coverage | |
Network | Formerly: |
The Ghana Music Awards, now known as Telcel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) after previously being titled Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) due to sponsorship changes, [2] [3] [4] stands as an annual hallmark event within Ghana's music industry. Since its inception in 1999 by Charter House, a local event organizing company, its primary aim has been to recognize and honour the contributions of Ghanaian musicians towards the advancement and enrichment of the nation's music landscape. This awards ceremony serves as a platform to celebrate the talents and achievements of artists who have played pivotal roles in shaping and expanding the local music scene. [5]
Held each April, May or June, the event is broadcast locally on GHOne TV, GTV and/or TV3 and outside Ghana on Akwaaba Magic on satellite TV platform DStv and terrestrial TV platform GOtv. [6] Prior to the launch of the Akwaaba Magic channel in 2021, the event was broadcast outside Ghana on channels 155 and 198 on DStv and on channel 110 on GOtv. [7] In 2020, the event's precursor, the nominees jam, scheduled for April 4 at Jackson Park in Koforidua, was initially postponed and then cancelled to comply with a national directive on public gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. [8] [9] [10] The 23rd edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Day 1 was held on Friday night, May 6, 2022. [11] Ghanaian Hip-Hop/Rap artiste Black Sherif won the 24th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year in a night of emotions for Ghanaian artiste. [12] Black Sherif was overly excited. He sang some of his songs with his fans as he mounted the stage to receive his words. [13] Ghana Music Awards is referred as the biggest music night in Ghana.
The Ghana Music Awards [14] trophy has been awarded in different forms over the years; with the current one unveiled before the 2019 edition of the event. It consists of a Gold Star plaque with a circular hole and strings on opposite faces, mimicking a guitar. [15]
The Artist of the Year award is the highest and most prestigious of the awards given at the event given to the artist(s) adjudged by the CharterHouse, the VGMA Board and the general public as having the highest audience appeal, radio play, online streaming and popularity. The artist(s) must have a released hit single/album during the year under review to qualify/be eligible. [16] Past and present Artist of the Year award winners:
The inaugural ceremony in 1999 was held at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra until 2004 when it moved to the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), and it has been held there ever since. With the exception of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 editions of the event which were held at the Dome of the AICC, the event since the move to the AICC was held at its Main Hall until 2018. Since 2019, the event has been held at the Grand Arena (then/previously the New Dome) still at the AICC.
Noella Wiyaala Nwadei is a Ghanaian Afro-pop singer-songwriter who sings in her native language Sissala and Waala dialects and English, often combining all three languages within her songs. Wiyaala means "the doer" in the Sissala dialect. She has attained public renown with her single "Make Me Dance" and her androgynous image. After making her name in reality shows in Accra, she established a solo career in 2013 with the hit single "Rock My Body",(Dance move was initiated by Van Calebs) which won her two awards at the 2014 first edition of the All Africa Music Awards, the Most Promising Artiste in Africa and Revelation of The African Continent. Wiyaala is also associated with UNICEF Ghana and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Ghana in campaigns against child marriage, child poverty, health and sanitation. She headlined the 15th London African Music Festival in London. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch.
Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., is a Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist. He is known by his stage name Shatta Wale, formerly Bandana. His best-known singles are "Dancehall King", "My Level" and "We Taking Over". He is also known for "Already" from Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift, which also featured Major Lazer. His song "Dancehall King" earned him the Artiste of the Year at the 2014 edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. Wale is also an actor who appeared in the films Never Say Never,The trial of Shatta Wale and Shattered Lives. Wale's 2004 recording "Moko Hoo" was nominated for a Ghana Music Award.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, Afro-dancehall and reggae musician.
Desmond Kwesi Blackmore, known by his stage name D-Black, is an anglophone hip-hop and Afrobeat musician and entrepreneur from Ghana. He has been described as "a successful entertainment mogul"
Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda, better known by her stage name MzVee, is a Ghanaian singer, afropop, dancehall and R&B artiste. Her debut solo album features several hit singles including 'Borkor Borkor, 'Natural Girl' and 'Dancehall Queen'. MzVee was signed to the record label Lynx Entertainment and was the winner of the New Artiste of the Year award at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards. She parted ways with Lynx Entertainment in the year 2019. She is currently a solo artist.
Samuel Adu Frimpong, popularly known as Medikal, is a Ghanaian hip hop musician born to Portia Lamptey and James Frimpong in Sowutuom, a suburb of Accra.
Nyantakyi Kusi kojo Emmanuel,, known by his stage name Kojo Manuel, is a Ghanaian radio host, Event MC, and artist. He presently works at YFM Ghana, where he is the host of the late weekday afternoon program "The DrYve of Your LYfe".
Ruth Eno Adjoa Amankwah Nyame Adom, known professionally by her stage name Eno Barony, is a Ghanaian rapper and songwriter. Born in Tema, Accra, she released her debut single, "Wats Ma Name" and also "Tonga", the remix of the track "Tonga" by Joey B ft Sarkodie in 2014 that lifted her into the limelight. It was claimed she was the first Ghanaian female rapper to hit a million views on YouTube.
John Kwesi Dosunmu-Mensah better known as M.O.G Beatz, is a Ghanaian record producer who specializes in Afro-pop, Hip hop, Afrobeats, R&B, Hiplife, Fuji and Highlife.
DopeNation is a Ghanaian musical duo of identical twin brothers, composed of Micheal Boafo popularly known as B2, and Tony Boafo known as Twist. They are best known for producing hit songs such as Kpuu Kpaa by Shatta wale, Wow by Joey B ft EL, Sebgefia by Joey B and EL, Poison by Ebony Reigns, Forever by Eazzy ft Mr Eazi, Nana Ama by Pappy Kojo, among others and chunning out hits for themselves as Artists.
Dennis Nana Dwamena, widely recognized by his stage name "KiDi," which translates to "Rhythm," was born on August 18, 1993. He is a prominent Ghanaian singer-songwriter known for his contributions to the genres of afrobeats and high-life.
Eugene Kwame Marfo, who goes by the stage name Kuami Eugene is a Ghanaian High-life and Afrobeat singer-songwriter. He is signed to Lynx Entertainment and Empire Distribution and is known for several songs, including "Angela", "Wish Me Well", "Ohemaa", "Wa Ye Wie" and many others. He won the Unsung and New Artist awards in 2017 and 2018 from the Ghana Music Awards respectively, and the Ghana Music Awards UK. He also received the Most Promising Artist in Africa award from AFRIMA / LYNXGHANA. In 2019, Kwame Eugene received 7 nominations at the Ghana Music Awards and went on to win the awards for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Highlife Artist of the Year. He was crowned Artist of the Year and High-life Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards.
Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur, known professionally as Kwesi Arthur, is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter from Tema. He rose to fame in 2017 with the hit single "Grind day" which received widespread acclaim and a co-sign from rap heavyweights Sarkodie and Medikal. In 2019, his second EP Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II garnered more than 2 million streams in the first week of its release.
The 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards was held on 18 May 2019 at the Grand Arena in Accra. The event was co-hosted by Kwami Sefa Kayi, who hosted from 1999 to 2007, and Berla Mundi.
Daniel Okyere Donkor popularly known with his stage name Mizter Okyere is a Ghanaian saxophonist and producer. In 2019, he was awarded the Best Instrumentalist of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
The 3 Music Award is Ghanaian music awards ceremony held annually since 2018 to celebrate Ghanaian music. It was established by the 3Music Network with Media General TV3 as broadcasters. The Multimedia group became the media right holder in the second and subsequent edition. In 2020, the Fan fest which was scheduled to take place at the Accra Polo Grounds was cancelled and a Virtual award ceremony was held from the Fantasy Dome, Trade Fair La. This was because of the ban on public gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derrick Sarfo Kantanka,, best known as Amerado, is a Ghanaian rapper from Kumasi. He is the curator of Yeete Nsem, Ghana's first news casting rap series.
Mona Faiz Montrage better known by her stage name as Mona 4Reall or Hajia4Reall is a Ghanaian socialite, model, musician, businesswoman and accused fraudster.