Entertainment
Nanabanyin Dadson Honoured with Prestigious TGMA Titan Award
The Palms Convention Centre at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel was ablaze with glitz, and electrifying performances as the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) celebrated its winners in an exclusive event dubbed “Nite with AOTY” on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The night was not just about music—it was also a night of honour and legacy, with veteran journalist and cultural icon Nanabanyin Dadson taking home the prestigious Titan Award for his immense contributions to Ghana’s music and arts ecosystem.
This award was presented by the CEO of Charterhouse, Mrs. Theresa Ayoade, who lavished praise on Dadson, highlighting his invaluable contributions to the industry and to the Ghana Music Awards scheme since its inception.
Titan Award: Nanabanyin Dadson’s Enduring Legacy
Nanabanyin Dadson is a distinguished Ghanaian journalist, arts critic and educator whose influential career spans over three decades. His work has left a lasting imprint on Ghana’s creative and cultural landscape – particularly in the areas of music journalism, arts criticism, and cultural tourism.
A graduate of the University of Ghana with a degree in English and a diploma in Performing Arts, Mr Dadson further pursued postgraduate studies in African Studies and Communication.
He began his journalism career as an arts reporter and columnist with The Mirror and Daily Graphic, before becoming Editor of Graphic Showbiz. Under his leadership, the paper rose to prominence as Ghana’s foremost publication dedicated to entertainment, music and the creative arts.
Throughout his career, Mr Dadson has consistently championed the arts and tourism sectors, using his platform to advocate for greater visibility, understanding and appreciation of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.
His commentary and reportage helped elevate cultural tourism into national conversation, encouraging the public and policymakers alike to recognise its value.
His work has been published in a range of national and international outlets – including West Africa Magazine, African Concord, Africa Magazine, Africa Asia, and the Torino Film Festival Magazine – and cited in academic publications such as Africa Cinema, Politics and Culture by Manthia Diawara.
He also contributed to landmark publications including Jubilee Ghana – A 50-Year News Journey Through Graphic, the Journalism Style Book, and the Journalism Policy Guide for the Graphic Communications Group.
Widely acknowledged as the only arts journalist of his time with both academic and practical grounding in the arts, Mr Dadson brought critical depth, eloquence and clarity to his writing.
His stated mission – to move the arts from the margins and reposition them as a serious and essential part of public discourse – has been largely realised, due in no small part to his pioneering efforts.
Now serving as Head of the Department of Journalism, Visual and Digital Communication at the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra, he continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of media practitioners.
He has also delivered lectures at institutions such as New York University (Ghana), the Ghana Institute of Journalism, and BlueCrest College.
His contributions have been recognised with several awards – including the Ministry of Information’s Artswriter Prize (1986, 1988), the Ghana Journalists Association’s Arts & Culture Writer of the Year (1996), and the GJA Recognition Award for Journalism (2004).
Nanabanyin Dadson remains a towering figure in Ghanaian cultural journalism – a passionate advocate for the arts and tourism, and a custodian of Ghana’s creative legacy.
Receiving the Titan Award, Dadson was celebrated as a true custodian of Ghana’s creative legacy, whose work has elevated cultural tourism and arts discourse in the nation.
Other Honourees of the Night
The event also recognised two other outstanding personalities:
1. Opoku Sanaa – Instrumentalist of the Year
A renowned bassist and music director, Sanaa has performed globally, from Expo 2020 Dubai to the Coca-Cola Arena, and worked with top artists like Joe Mettle, Diana Hamilton, and Cwesi Oteng. His 2024 album, “It’s Time”, showcases his genre-defying talent, solidifying his place among Africa’s finest instrumentalists.
2. Susuma Pan-African Dance & Music Ensemble – Traditional Artiste of the Year
Founded in 1991 by Nana Kwame Dadzie, this award-winning ensemble has taken Ghanaian traditional music and dance to global stages, preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage.
GHANAIAN UK-based gospel musician and songwriter, Victoria Ivy Obeng has finally released the much-anticipated Extended Play (EP), titled My Passion.
The EP is made up of five spirit-filled songs: ‘Take me deeper’, ‘Psalms 34’, ‘I surrender’, ‘I love you more than anything’ and ‘You Alone’.
The EP was birthed from a deep hunger for God’s presence and an unwavering love for Jesus Christ. Rooted in scripture and inspired by a life of worship, this project is a response to the call for total surrender.
“To love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30), songs like ‘Take me deeper’ and ‘I surrender’ express longing for intimacy with God and a willingness to yield completely to His will,” she revealed.
Ivy Obeng added, “also ‘You Alone’ and ‘I love you more than anything’ declare Christ as the centre of all devotions, while ‘Psalms 34’ reflects a lifestyle of continuous praise.”
She started singing at the age of eight, and with the determination to get to the top, Ivy Obeng has touched and impacted many lives with her God-given talent through ministrations at different events.
The gospel minister began writing and recording her songs in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. She is eager to impact lives and change destinies for the better through her awe-inspiring music.
The EP is available on all digital music stores worldwide.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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AFTER two years of silence, Clarion Clarkewoode roars again with ‘Aye Kwa’, to wit, the plot has failed.
‘Aye Kwa’ is a vibrant afrobeats track in which Clarion delivers a humorous and relatable narrative drawn from everyday life. The song is crafted to keep listeners engaged, entertained, and encouraged to stay fearless and unshaken in the face of negativity or hate.
When asked why he chose to release this song now, Clarion reflected that its lyrical content mirrors the challenges he has personally faced and, by God’s great grace actively at work in his life, overcome.
Anchoring his message in Scripture, Clarion affirms that through the finished and perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross, “nothing present or yet to come can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).
In a message to his fans, Clarion said, “watch this space you’re going to be spoilt for choice this year. I’m making up for the two years of silence with a variety of massive tunes!”
‘Aye Kwa’ was produced by Kwame Yeboah (KwamStar) in the UK, with additional production and mixing by Martin Mawutor (Martinokeys) in Germany. It was mastered by Matt Foster in the UK, with background vocals by Claudia Trixie and Clarion Clarkewoode in Ghana.
‘Aye Kwa’ is now available for streaming and download on all digital platforms.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
