Sylvester Dordzi
Charterhouse, the organizers of the annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), has released the first batch of nominees for this year’s awards ceremony, marking the 24th edition of the prestigious event. This year’s awards promise to be exciting for both musicians and music lovers, as it celebrates the hard work of Ghana’s music industry stakeholders.
The VGMA research team, board, and secretariat conducted a thorough review of the works of artists from January 1st, 2022, to December 31st, 2022, and concluded on the nomination list. The first batch of nominations includes categories such as Best Hip Hop Song, Best Gospel Music, Best Highlife Song, and Best Hiplife Songs.
One of the most highly contested categories is the Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, with Black Sherif’s “Kwaku the Traveller” and Sarkodie’s “Country Side” featuring Black Sherif in the mix. Other nominees in this category include Amerado’s “Obiaa Boa,” Kwesi Arthur’s “Drama,” Malcolm Nuna’s “Benzo,” and Medikal’s “Scarface.”
The Unsung Artistes of the Year category is another exciting one, featuring some of Ghana’s budding musical talents such as Nii Ashun, Aya Ramzyb, DSL, Maya Blu, Boi Jake, and Tsa Qa. This category is known for launching the careers of many successful musicians, making it one to watch.
The Best Highlife Song of the Year category is also highly contested, featuring hits such as Epixode ft Kwabena Kwabena’s “Atiaa,” AK Songstress’ “My Proposal,” Adina’s “Adi Dede,” Kelvyn Boy’s “Down Flat,” Kofi Kinaata’s “Have Mercy,” and Kwesi Arthur’s “Adom.”
The Best Hiplife Song of the Year category has some exciting nominations such as Lasmid’s “Friday Night,” Medikal’s “Stubborn Academy,” Jay Bhad’s “Anadwo,” Kweku Flick’s “Ewiase,” DJ Brezzy ft Stonebwoy, Smallgod, Black Sherif, and co’s “Aboten,” and Amerado ft Lasmid’s “Grace.”
The VGMA ceremony is the biggest music awards night in Ghana and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the Grand Arena International Conference Centre. The awards ceremony is a platform to celebrate the hard work and contributions of musicians and other stakeholders in the music industry.
In conclusion, the first batch of nominees for the 24th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards promises to be an exciting one with some of the country’s best talents vying for awards in different categories. It is an excellent opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the hard work of Ghana’s musicians and the vibrant music industry.
