The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, organized by Charter House each year, brings all musicians together and award them per their songs released during the year. This year’s is the 23rd version of the VGMA Awards. The program, held at the Grand Arena, AICC, was in two sessions; one on the night of Friday, May 6, 2022 and the second session was on May 7, 2022.
Fameye, Wizkid, Kweisey Pee, Stonebwoy and MOG were sweepers of award on the first night. The second night saw artistes like KiDi, Black Sherif, Sarkodie, Kofi Kinaata and many others, taking awards home.
Veteran Musicians and Writers have won the awards in the past. This year’s VGMA saw a new set of awardees. Below is the full list of winners at the VGMA23.
Yeeko by Okyeame Kwame ft Kuami Eugene, beat: No Fugazy by Sarkodie; Biibi Besi by Kwame Yogot ft Kuami Eugene; Accra by Medikal; Abodie by Captain Planet ft Kuami Eugene; Kom by Fancy Gadam; Zinabu by DopeNation ft Dancegod Lloyd, Afrobeat, DWP Academy; S3k3 by Mr Drew, to win the Best Hiplife Song of the Year.
The Video of the Year Award went to Nyinya by Bosom P Yung, which passed Mon Bebe by Kidi; Mood by Mr Drew; Odeshie by Epixode; Bad Girls Luv Money Remix by Amaarae; Slow Down by King Promise; Rollies and Cigar by Sarkodie; Let it Go by Kweku Smoke; Fine Girl by Mona 4 Reall.
Okyeame Kwame, Black Sherif, D Black, Amerado and Medikal were all beaten by Sarkodie to be the one to take home the Best HipLife/HipHop Artiste of the Year. Kidi also took home the Award of the Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year by beating Sefa, King Promise, Mr Drew, Wendy Shay, Gyakie, Camidoh and Darkovibes.
Sefa ft Mr Drew’s E Choke was the Best Afrobeats Song of the Year. Songs in that nominations were Celebrate, Dollar on You, Coming Home, Sugarcane, Mon Bebe and Je M’apelle. Out of Heat, Forever Remix, Mood, King Promise, Enjoyment Minister and Bad Girls Love Money Remix; Praise by Fameye won the Best Afropop Song of the Year.
The Best Gospel Song Award went to Ote Me Mu by Ohemaa Mercy ft Mog Music. The Gospel veteran musician, Joe Mettle, won the Best Gospel Artiste of the Year. Other nominees for the Best Gospel Artiste of the Year were Diana Hamilton, Obaapa Christy, Celestine Donkor, MoG Music, Empress Gifty, Ohemaa Mercy and Akesse Brempong.
Thy Grace PT1 by Kofi Kinaata, won the Best Highlife Song of the Year and the Best Highlife Artiste had Akwaboah winning the Award over Cina Soul, Bisa Kdei, Fameye, Kuami Eugene and Kofi Kinaata. Kidi’s Goldend Boy won the Album of the Year Award, whiles Fameye’s Praise won the Songwriter of the Year’s Award over Minister OJ, Abiana, Akwaboah and Dina Hamilton.
Black Sherif went on to win the Best HipHop song of the Year with his Second Sermon and went on the bag the Best New Artiste of the Year Award. Touch It by KiDi won the Best Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year; Kweisey Pee, the Male Vocale Performance of the Year and Niiella, the Female Vocale Performance of the Year.
The Best African Artiste was Wizkid and the Collaboration of the Year Award went to D Black ft Stonebwoy, Quamina Mp- Enjoyment Minister. International Collaboration of the Year Award went to Gyakie ft Omah- Forever Remix. Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year Award went to KiDi’s Touch It song and the Best Rap Performance went to Lyrical Joe- 5th August. Stonebwoy won the Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year award over Samini, Larruso and Epixode. Record of the Year went to Sad Girls Luv Money by Amaarae ft Moliy, Kali Uchis.
The Best Traditional Artiste of the Year Award went to Nii Tettey Tetteh and the Lifetime Artiste of the Year went to Agya Koo Nimoh. Music for Good Award went to Stonebwoy, the Producer of the Year Award went to MOG and the Vodafone Green Awards went to Stonebwoy.
Out of King Promise, Kuami Eugene, Sarkodie, Black Sherif and Joe Mettle, who were nominated for the Artiste of the year award, KiDi emerged as the winner of the Artiste of the Year for the VGMA23.
Report by:
Francis Hilbrands Agyemang.