Entertainment
GMA-UK unveils nominees
Nominees for this year’s Ghana Music Awards-UK has been unveiled over the weekend at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
The event which brought many industry players together saw performances from Jayana, Kwabena Kwabena, KK Fosu, Akwaboah and others.
The nominees for Hiplife/Hip Hop Artistes of the Year category will be a tight competition for Black Sherif, Amerado, Sarkodie, D-Black and Medikal.
For the Hiplife/Hip Hop Song of the Year has songs likeAbotr3 (Patience) – Amerado ft. Black Sherif,Coachella – Sarkodie ft. Kwesi Arthur, Second Sermon – Black Sherif, Asuoden – Sista Afia ft. Kuami Eugene, and Heat – Wendy Shay.
Other songs in the category are, Kweku The Traveller – Black Sherif, Anadwo – Kwame Yesu ft Black Sherif & Kimilist, Sika – Kimilist ft. Yaw Tog & Kwame Yesu, Holy F4K – Smallgod x Ivorian Doll x Vic Mensa x Black Sherif x Kwaku DMC and22InTwo’s-BallJ.
Kofi Kinaata, Cina Soul, Akwaboah, Kuami Eugene, Fameye, Kwabena Kwabena and Sista Afia will battle it out for the Highlife Artiste of the Year crown.
For their consistency since their emergence onto the music scene, Mona 4Reall, Black Sherif, Efe Grace, Scott Evans, Lady Opheilia, Jayana, Kimilist and Malcom Nuna earned nomination at the New Artiste Of The Year category.
The ultimate category which is Artiste of the Year, will be a tough huddle for Black Sherif, King Promise, KiDi, Sarkodie, Kuami Eugene, Akwaboah, Stonebwoy, Celestine Donkor and Diana Hamilton
There are other categories up for contest for artistes based in Ghana and the United Kingdom, for the event slated for London on October 29, 2022.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The biggest event on Ghana’s entertainment calendar is set for a night of honours, pomp, and pageantry.
It is a night where musicians who excelled during the year under review will be rewarded through the endorsement of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards Board, the Academy, and the general public.
The Grand Arena, the ideal venue for the 27th TGMA, will host a star-studded audience of musicians, media personalities, businessmen, politicians, actors, and footballers among others.
On this night, the most coveted prize is the Artiste of the Year (AOTY) category, which will see the crowning of a new king or queen of Ghana music.
Two heavyweights in the category, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie, have the opportunity to set an enviable record as the only artistes to win the coveted title for a third time.
Should they fall short, the opportunity shifts to Black Sherif and Diana Hamilton to equal the record of two wins, joining the elite ranks of past double-winners like VIP.
A win for Diana Hamilton, will set her up in a lonely journey at the top as the only gospel musician, to win the Artiste of the Year for the second time.
Alternatively, Wendy Shay could make her debut by winning the award for the first time. This would make her team up with Diana Hamilton as the only female artistes alive to hold the title. The late Ebony, won it posthumously in 2018.
If the title slips past them and falls to Medikal, he will also become a first-time winner, etching his name into the annals of Ghana music history.
Patrons can look forward to electrifying performances from a long list of confirmed artistes, including Black Sherif, Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, R2Bees, Medikal, Wendy Shay, Lasmid, Kofi Kinaata, Samini, and Fido, among others.
Beyond the ultimate prize, several other major categories are up for grabs, including Music Video of the Year, New Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The fourth edition of International AmoFest lived up to its promise on Saturday, May 2, delivering a vibrant “three-in-one” experience that left the audience at Alliance Française in Accra buzzing.
The night was a masterful blend of sound and stagecraft. Berima Amo, the visionary behind the festival, led an impressive lineup of performers, including Pedro Kastelijns, Martha Apini, Rudy Ray, and Lamisi.
Together, they showcased a fusion of global music and authentic Ghanaian Highlife, staying true to the festival’s mission of preserving Ghana’s original rhythmic soul.
Adding a unique layer to the evening, Uncle Ebo Whyte’s Roverman Productions took to the stage, blending theater with the night’s musical energy.
The experience concluded with a high-energy after-party, fulfilling Berima Amo’s goal of creating a truly immersive and memorable night.
Reflecting on the event’s purpose, Amo emphasised the need for intentionality in protecting Highlife.
He called on every Ghanaian, as well as government institutions, to actively foster an environment where the genre can thrive on the global stage.
The main event followed a successful educational outreach on April 24, where over 250 high school students participated in a Highlife workshop at the Centre for National Culture.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
