Entertainment
All set for maiden REFFA Awards
THE countdown has officially began for the maiden edition of the Regal Film Festival and Awards (REFFA), set to culminate in a dazzling Awards Night today at the Palms Convention Centre, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
Anticipation is high as the brightest talents from the African and Diaspora film industries prepare to walk the red carpet for an evening of celebrating cinematic excellence and ground-breaking storytelling. The special guest of honour is the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The REFFA Awards, a new and exceptionally prestigious awards scheme, is dedicated to honouring outstanding achievements in filmmaking across Africa and its global diaspora. This year’s edition, the maiden, has already captured international attention, having received over 121 film entries from 21 countries.
Following a rigorous screening process, the official nomination list was unveiled last month, featuring 112 nominees in 23 categories set to compete across various categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Actor/Actress in a Leading Role, and Achievement in Cinematography.
The 2025 REFFA nominees represent the finest creative voices currently redefining African cinema. Industry professionals, including established directors, rising stars, and celebrated technical artists, will gather to see who takes home the coveted trophies.
Key categories feature tight competition, highlighting films like RISE (Zimbabwe) and Murder In Mind (Ghana) for Best Short Film, and actors such as Ikechukwu Onunaku (Nigeria) and Roselyn Ngissah (Ghana) vying for individual accolades. “We are proud of the calibre of films submitted this year—works that tell authentic African stories with creativity and technical depth. The diversity of voices and themes demonstrates how far our continent’s film industry has evolved,” Selassie Ibrahim, Executive Director, REFFA noted.
The awards night will be preceded by a 3-day film festival which will start on December 10 to 12, 2025. There will be perfomances from Sonnie Badu, Diana Hamilton, Empress Gifty, King Promise, Kizz Daniel, Parrot Mouth, Kwan Pa band and Patchbay Band.
The Regal Film Festival and Awards promises to be an unforgettable night of recognition, inspiration, and celebration.
Award-winning Ghanaian musician, Wendy Asiamah Addo, known in showbiz circles as Wendy Shay, is poised for Artiste of the Year crown this year.
Through her hard work last year, the musician has earned about seven nominations for this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
Wendy Shay was nominated for Artiste of the Year, Album of the Year, Afrobeats Song of the Year, Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, International Collaboration of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Most Popular Song of the Year.
Speaking exclusively to her management, they said Wendy Shay last year graced over 40 shows, including her successful Shay Concert held at the West Hills Mall in Accra on November 22, 2025.
Additionally, they noted that through her hard work, she had international features with Movado (Apology), Phina (Too Late Remix), Bedjine (Too Late Remix), Guchi (Too Late Remix) and Niggy Boy (Weed & Wine).
They further told the paper that her ‘Ready’ album garnered over 25 million streams across all platforms, including massive airplays, adding that most of the songs featured prominently at parties and diverse events in Ghana and beyond.
Her management concluded that the hard work made her brand very attractive for Corporate Ghana, a feat which led Wendy Shay to secure ambassadorial deals with Peeva and Hisense.
Against this backdrop, they are optimistic that Wendy Shay is in pole position to win the coveted Artiste of the Year crown this year, and therefore called on industry players, all and sundry to vote for her.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeat musician Berima Amo has signed a new international recording deal with UK-based world music label ARC Music, a move seen as another boost for the global recognition of West African music.
Known for blending traditional highlife with Afrobeat, jazz and other global influences, Amo has become a strong advocate for preserving and promoting authentic African musical heritage while introducing it to new audiences around the world.
The announcement comes ahead of the release of his much-anticipated album “Rhythms of Love,” recorded live at Studio 150 Bethlehemkerk in Amsterdam. The album will be released worldwide on May 24, preceded by two singles: “Fake Flowers” on May 1 and “Yaba” featuring Tallulah Rose on May 8, 2026.
The new project is expected to expand Amo’s reputation as both a cultural preserver and musical innovator, pushing the boundaries of African sound through powerful rhythms and cross-genre fusion.
With five albums, two EPs and ten singles already available across major streaming platforms, Berima Amo continues to grow his global audience.
Berima Amo, a singer, trumpeter, composer and bandleader originally from Ghana and now active in Europe, has built a reputation for preserving the roots of highlife while reimagining it for modern audiences. Through performances, collaborations and educational initiatives, he has championed traditional African rhythms and instruments while blending them with Afrobeat, jazz, soul and orchestral music.
Many in the industry now view Amo as a torchbearer for authentic West African music, continuing the legacy of legendary figures such as E. T. Mensah, The Ramblers International Band, Rex Lawson, Ebo Taylor, Nana Ampadu, King Onyina, Osibisa and Fela Kuti, helping to carry the sound of West Africa to the world.
