VGMAs 2019: Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale clash on stage

The awards ceremony took place at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana on 18 May and saw musicians like Medikal, Kuami Eugene, Diana Hamilton and Nigeria’s Burna Boy emerge as winners.

However, the awards ceremony was disrupted when an altercation broke out between the two popular musicians and their crews.

According to numerous Ghanaian media outlets, when Stonebwoy went onstage to receive the Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year Award with his entourage, Shatta Wale and his crew mounted the stage. A scuffle then erupted, with Stonebwoy pulling out a gun and forcing the guests to leave the auditorium.

Speaking to Music In Africa, Ghanaian music promoter and publicist Jonilar confirmed the incident and said the two musicians were being held at the Tesano police station in Accra, awaiting a possible court hearing.

"For me as a publicist and blogger working with some of the nominees, I was disappointed in how things turned out, just an hour into the main show," he said. "It was also unfortunate that it had to happen when we were celebrating 20 years of the awards and in the glare of many legends and moguls working with major labels who had been invited to experience the special edition.

"I’m happy the police have officially invited Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale to resolve their differences. I also urge the Arts Ministry to get involved in settling this long-term dispute so we can rebuild our integrity as one of the best awards in West Africa."

During his acceptance speech for another award, Stonebwoy apologised for the incident, according to local media.

"I only had to react out of natural instincts because we all know how premeditative some people can be," he said. "We've seen on social media the threats and everything so we couldn't come in unprepared. I come in peace and I go in peace and I apologise to the whole masses of Ghana that the awards is going to continue."

No major incidents were reported after the scuffle, according to the BBC. But the incident has now raises questions about how Stonebwoy had entered the venue with a firearm.    

Below is the full list of winners: 

Record of the Year

• Fuse ODG – 'Bra Fie' feat Damain Marley
• Akwaboah – 'Hye Me Bo'
• Okyeame Kwame – 'Made In Ghana'
• Trigmatic – 'Where We Dey Go'
• Stonebwoy – 'Tomorrow'

Album of the Year

• Kuami Eugene – Rockstar
• Akwaboah – Matters of the Heart
• Wendy Shay – Shay on You
• Diana Hamilton – I Believe
• Samini – Untamed
• Shatta Wale – Reign

Afropop Song of the Year

• King Promise – 'Tokyo' feat Wizkid
• Guilty Beatz – 'Akwaaba' feat Mr Eazi, Pappy Kojo & King Promise
• Kwesi Arthur – 'Don’t Keep Me Waiting' feat KiDi
• Article Wan – 'That Thing' feat Patapaa
• Wendy Shay – 'Uber Driver'
• DJ MicSmith – 'Yenkor' feat Kwesi Arthur
• MzVee – 'Come and See My Moda' feat Yemi Alade
• Shatta Wale – 'Thunder Fire' feat SM Militants

Highlife Song of the Year

• Dada Hafco – 'Yebewu Nti'
• Kidi – 'Thunder'
• Shatta Wale – 'My Level'
• Kumi Guitar – 'Betweener'
• Kwesi Arthur – 'Woara'
• King Promise – 'CCTV' feat Sarkodie & Mugeez
• Adina – 'Killing Me Softly'

Hip hop Song of the Year

• Medikal – 'How Much' Remix feat Sarkodie & Omar Sterling
• Sarkodie – 'Biibi Ba' feat Amerado, Kofi Mole, Tulenkey, Yeyo, 2Fingers, Frequency, LJ, O’Bkay & CJ Biggerman
• KoJo Cue – 'Wole' Remix feat Worlasi, Kwesi Arthur, Shaker, Kay-Ara, Temple & C-Real
• Kwesi Arthur – 'Anthem'
• Joey B – 'Stables' feat La Meme Gang
• R2Bees – 'Boys Kasa' feat Kwesi Arthur, King Promise, Darkovibes, B4bonah, Humble Dis, Spacely, Medikal & Rjz

Hiplife Song of the Year

• Medikal – 'Ayekoo' feat King Promise
• Sarkodie – 'Can’t Let You Go' feat King Promise
• Quamina MP – 'Wiase Ye De' Remix feat Kwesi Arthur & Yung C
• DopeNation – 'Eish'
• Flowking Stone – 'Blow My Mind'
• Stonebwoy – 'Kpoo Keke' feat Medikal, Kwesi Arthur & Darko Vibes
• Yaa Pono – 'Obiaa Wone Master' feat Stonebwoy
• Strongman – 'Baby Girl' feat Kuami Eugene

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

• Maccasio – 'Dagomba Girl' feat Mugeez
• Shatta Wale – 'Gringo'
• Stonebwoy – 'Top Skanka'
• Samini – 'Obaa'

Gospel Song of the Year

• Joyce Blessing – 'I Swerve You'
• KODA – 'Hosanna'
• I.K Aning – 'Bobolebobo'
• Joe Mettle – 'My Everything'
• Obaapa Christy – 'W’asua Me'
• Bethel Revival Choir – 'Agba Dza'
• Diana Hamilton – 'Mo Ne Yo'

Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year

• Stonebwoy
• Epixode
• Samini
• AK Songstress
• Shatta Wale

Gospel Artist of the Year

• Joyce Blessing
• Joe Mettle
• KODA
• Diana Hamilton
• Obaapa Christy
• Akesse Brempong

Highlife Artist of the Year

• KiDi
• Kuami Eugene
• Akwaboah
• King Promise
• Adina

Songwriter of the Year   

• Fuse ODG – 'Bra Fie'
• Teephlow – 'Forgive'
• Akwaboah – 'Hye Me Bo'
• King Promise – 'CCTV'
• Trigmatic – 'Where We Dey Go'
• Stonebwoy – 'Tomorrow'

Best Video of the Year

• Joey B – 'Stables' feat La Meme Gang (Dir. David Duncan)
• KoJo Cue & Shaker – 'Up & Awake' feat Kwesi Arthur (Dir E. Kumodzi)
• Kirani Ayat – 'Guda' (Dir David Nico-Sey)
• M.anifest – 'Me Ne Woa' feat King Promise (Dir Makere Thekiso)
• Shatta Wale – 'Gringo' (Dir Sesan)
• Fuse ODG – 'Bra Fie' feat Damain Marley (Dir Edgar Stevens)
• Sarkodie – 'Biibi Ba' feat Amerado, Kofi Mole, Tulenkey, Yeyo, 2Fingers, Frequency, LJ, O’Bkay & CJ Biggerman (Dir Babs)
• MzVee – 'Come and See My Moda' feat Yemi Alade (Dir Xbills Ebenezer)

Hiplife/Hip hop Artist of the Year

• Patapaa
• Medikal
• Sarkodie
• Kwesi Arthur
• R2Bees
• La Meme Gang

Male Vocalist of the Year

• King Promise
• KiDi
• Akwaboah
• Luigi Maclean

Female Vocalist of the Year

• eShun
• Efya
• Cina Soul
• Adina
• MzVee
• Diana Hamilton

Group of the Year

• R2Bees
• DopeNation
• La Meme Gang
• Bethel Revival Choir

Rapper of the Year

• Medikal
• M.anifest
• Teephlow
• Sarkodie
• Obibini

Best Collaboration of the Year

• Adina – 'Killing Me Softly' feat Kuami Eugene
• Sarkodie – 'Can’t Let You Go' feat King Promise
• King Promise – 'CCTV' feat Sarkodie & Mugeez
• Guilty Beatz – 'Akwaaba' feat Mr Eazi, Pappy Kojo & Patapaa
• MzVee – 'Come and See My Moda' feat Yemi Alade
• Yaa Pono – 'Obiaa Wone Master' feat Stonebwoy
• Stonebwoy – 'Kpoo Keke' feat Medikal, Kwesi Arthur, Darko Vibes & Kelvyn Boy
• DJ Vyrusky – 'Never Carry Last' feat Kuami Eugene & Mayorkun

Best African Collabo

• Dopenation ft. Olamide – 'Naami' Remix
• Guilty Beats ft. Mr. Eazi, Patapaa & Pappy Kojo – 'Akwaaba'
• Too Fan ft. Patoranking & Sarkodie – 'My Girl' Remix
• King Promise ft. Wizkid – 'Tokyo'
• Stonebwoy ft. Casper Nyovest – 'Wame'
• Mzvee ft. Yemi Alade – 'Come and see my Mother'
• Shatta Wale ft. Olamide – 'Wonder'

African Artist of the Year

• Davido
• Wizkid
• Mr Eazi
• Sauti Soul
• Cassper Nyovest
• Burna Boy

Best New Artist of the Year 

• Quamina MP
• Kelvyn Boy
• Eddie Khae
• Wendy Shay
• La Meme Gang
• DopeNation

Instrumentalist of the Year

• Unda Beats
• Mizter Okyere
• Enoch Owuraku
• Emmanuel Bludo

Producer of the Year

• Kaywa
• Killbeats
• Kuami Eugene
• DDT
• MOG Beat

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Dr Mary Ghansa
• Obuoba JA Adofo
• Kofi Abraha

Artist of the Decade

• Becca
• Efya
• Joe Mettle
• No Tribe and Nacee
• Okyeame Kwame
• R2Bees
• Samini
• Sarkodie
• Shatta Wale
• Stonebwoy

Artist of the Year*

• King Promise
• Kuami Eugene
• Joe Mettle
• Sarkodie
• Shatta Wale
• Stonebwoy

*awaiting confirmation