Entertainment
Empress Gifty crowned Artiste of the Year at 6th GMA USA
Ghanaian gospel musician, Empress Gifty Adorye, has been crowned Artiste of the Year at the sixth edition of the Ghana Music Awards (GMA) held in the United States of America.
The event took place on August 16, at the ACX1 Studios in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The ‘Awieye Pa’ hitmaker, who attended the show with her husband, Mr Hopeson Adorye, also won the Gospel Song of the Year prize, making it a double victory on the night.
Her expressive rendition of ‘Watch Me’ beat competition from King Promise, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Diana Hamilton, Joe Mettle, Fameye, KiDi, King Paluta, and Team Eternity.
The ceremony, which celebrates Ghanaian music talents in both Ghana and the diaspora, saw US-based Ghanaian artistes such as Jay Hover, C-Ben and Kay Rockz receive honours.
Special tributes were paid to late Highlife icons Dada KD and Daddy Lumba, while Gyedu-Blay Ambolley was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The night featured thrilling performances from Empress Gifty, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Kofi Kinaata, and comedian OB Amponsah.
In her acceptance speech, Empress Gifty thanked radio stations, DJs, her manager, and fans who stood by her throughout her career.
The ‘Watch Me’ single released in 2024, has reached over three million views on Youtube.
The song delivers a message of hope and perseverance, encouraging listeners to trust in God’s timing amidst life’s challenges. -GNA
The Kumasi metropolis was thrown into a state of frenzy last Saturday as thousands of fans flocked the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for Sarkodie’s Rapperholic Concert that climaxed the 2025 Momo Fest.
Despite a heavy rainfall, the event, powered by MTN, drew unprecedented crowds for the month-long initiative to promote financial inclusion, the use of mobile money, and raise awareness on MoMo fraud prevention.
The musical event was preceded by educational roadshows, cashless market fairs, and community engagement activities across the country.
Vendors at the MoMo Cashless Market and Fair, set up within the stadium premises, offered goods and services payable exclusively through mobile money, giving patrons a live demonstration of MoMo’s utility.
The concert, headlined by multiple award-winning rapper Sarkodie, featured performances from several high-profile Ghanaian artistes including Medikal, Kofi Kinaata, Donzy, Kweku Smoke, and Efya.
But the appearance of Shatta Wale, who joined Sarkodie on stage, took the excitement a notch higher as it marked a rare public collaboration between the two top acts.
The event would go into the history books as one of the largest music gatherings in Kumasi and a fitting conclusion to a festival that sought to blend innovation with entertainment.
Funeral rites for the late Ghanaian music icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, affectionately known as Daddy Lumba, will be held on December 6 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Later in the evening of December 6, there will be a DL cocktail party at the Rattray Park, which will feature top musicians in the country.
Announcing the funeral arrangements on behalf of the family, former Manhyia North Member of Parliament, Collins Owusu Amankwa, said the decision was reached after consultations with Manhyia, government, and other key stakeholders.
The family cautioned the public to desist from disrespecting the legend on social media by spreading falsehood about his marital status.
Daddy Lumba, 60, passed away on July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness.
Following his death, a book of condolence was opened at his East Legon residence for loved ones, friends, colleagues, and fans to pay tribute to his iconic memory.
Subsequently, the government, in collaboration with the Creative Arts Agency, organised a candlelight vigil in his memory at Independence Square in Accra on August 2.
This was later followed by a One Week Observation at the same venue on August 30, which was attended by people from all walks of life.
Born on September 29, 1964, in Nsuta in the Ashanti Region, Daddy Lumba started his music career at a young age. He later joined the Lumba Brothers alongside Nana Acheampong in Germany before launching a solo career.
With about 32 albums and over 200 songs to his credit, Daddy Lumba thrilled the world with classic hits such as “Aben Wo Ha,” “Yentie Obiaa,” “Playboy,” “Theresa,” “Sika Asem,” “Mensei Da,” “Makra Mo,” and many others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
