Ghana: All set for maiden Global Music Awards Africa

Organised by Ghana-based event company Smart Focus Media, the GMAA operate with a vision of honouring outstanding musical accomplishments by African acts while promoting the continent’s artists to global audiences.

“Our mission is to unite Africa through music,” GMAA CEO Daniel Adofo told Music In Africa. “The scheme will also honour the hard work and dedication of various stakeholders in the music industry.”

This year, artists from 20 countries will be rewarded in various categories, including Global Gospel Song of the Year, Global Hip Hop Song of the Year, Global Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year, Global Afrobeats Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. 

Ghana’s Kuami Eugene, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Vanessa Mdee, Nigeria’s Davido, Wizkid and Simi, South Africa’s Nasty C and Master KG, and Uganda’s Nutty Neithan and Eddy Kenzo will be hoping to win the Global Artist of the Year Award. 

The ceremony will be compered by Jay Kojo Daasebre and Margaret Barden. Singers Sherifa Gunu, S3fa, Epixode, Star Zee and the Levites Band will perform on the night.

Meanwhile, the former president of the Musicians Union of Ghana, Bice Osei Kuffour and broadcaster and musician Daniel Kofi Amoateng will be presented with special recognition awards for their contribution to African music.

In Ghana, the awards will air on Ceejay TV, Base TV and 3rd TV at 8pm. The event will also be streamed on the GMAA Facebook page.

Below is the list of nominees:

Global Gospel Song of the Year

• ‘Celebrate’ – Levixone (Uganda)
• ‘God Alone’ – Joe Praize (Nigeria)
• ‘W’asem’ – Diana Hamilton (Ghana)
• ‘Revival’ – Minister Michael Mahendere (Zimbabwe)
• ‘Jesus Over Do’ – Empress Gifty Osei (Ghana)
• ‘Worthy to be Praised’ – Prospa Ochimana (Nigeria)

Gospel Artist of the Year

• Levixone (Uganda)
• Diana Hamilton (Ghana)
• Joe Praize (Nigeria)
• Minister Michael Mahendere (Zimbabwe)
• Empress Gifty Osei (Ghana)
• Prospa Ochimana (Nigeria)

Global Hip Hop Song of the Year

• ‘La Hustle’ – Medikal ft. Joey B and Cris Waddle (Ghana)
• ‘Madina’ – Teflon Flexx (Ghana)
• ‘Love from 233’ – Kwesi Arthur (Ghana)
• ‘Big Money’ – Star Zee (Sierra Leone)
• ‘Camuflaje’ – D-Soulja (Equatorial Guinea) 

Global Reggae/ Dancehall Song of the Year

• ‘Big Money’ – Star Zee (Sierra Leone) 
• ‘Journey’ – Stonebwoy (Ghana)
• ‘Dolla Bill’ – Heph B (Nigeria)
• ‘Shaming Enemies’ – Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)
• ‘Choppings’ – Shatta Wale (Ghana)

Global Reggae/ Dancehall Artist of the Year

• Shatta Wale (Ghana)
• Star Zee (Sierra Leone)
• Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Stonebwoy (Ghana)
• Heph B (Nigeria)

Global Afrobeats Song of the Year

• ‘Vibe’ – Flo-Eazy (Ghana)
• ‘Best Friend’ – Kelvyn Boy (Ghana)
• ‘Agbemator’ – De Gate Zion (Ghana)
• ‘All Access’ – Terror- D ft. Emmerson (Sierra Leone)
• ‘Mama Prayer’ – Awoskey (Nigeria) 

Global Afrobeats Artist of the Year

• Flo-Eazy (Ghana)
• Kelvyn Boy (Ghana)
• Terror-D (Sierra Leone)
• Awoskey (Nigeria)

Global Best Video of the Year

• ‘Here For You’ – Vanilla Karr (Equatorial Guinea)
• ‘Waa’ Santrinos – Raphael ft. Zeynab (Togo)
• ‘Tevunya’ – Sheeba Karungi (Uganda)
• ‘Big Money’ – Star Zee (Sierra Leone)
• ‘Without You’ – Awoskey (Nigeria)
• ‘Whatsapp’ – Nick Mba (Equatorial Guinea) 
• ‘On God’ – D’Tee (Nigeria)
• ‘Camuflaje’ – D- Soulja (Equatorial Guinea) 
• ‘Goddess’ – Tiisha (Goddess)
• ‘Wildin’ – Mmzy (Nigeria)
• ‘Favour’ – Nanky ft. Sarkodie (Ghana)
• ‘Litty Lit’ – Cuppy ft. Teni (Nigeria)

Songwriter of the Year

• Mr Leo (Cameroon)
• Leczy (Nigeria)
• Master KG (South Africa)
• DobleJota NM (Senegal)
• Nedy (Tanzania)
• Betty G (Ethiopia)
• Buju (Nigeria)
• Jerry Jeyco (Tanzania)

Producer of the Year

• Mr Jassiq (South Africa)
• KillBeatz (Ghana)
• Scarfboy (Nigeria)
• MOG Beatz (Ghana)
• Dave Da Music Box (Ghana)
• Ivan Beatz (Ghana)
• Spon Keys (Ghana)
• Vinny Kay (Ghana)

Record of the Year

• ‘All Access’ – Terror- D ft. Emmerson (Sierra Leone)
• ‘Idol’ – Leczy (Nigeria)
• ‘Duduke’ – Simi (Nigeria)
• ‘Ya Disponible’ – Obote Oberadaboo (Equatorial Guinea)
• ‘Jerusalema’ – Master KG (South Africa)
• ‘Amen’ – Neny (Tanzania)
• ‘Amégan’ – Afia Mala (Togo)

Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• Leczy (Nigeria)
• Nick Mba (Equatorial Guinea)
• Minks (Cameroon)
• King Gizie (Nigeria)
• Nanky (Ghana)

Global Male Vocalist of the Year

• Phantom Steeze (South Africa)
• Leczy (Nigeria)
• Bella Shmurda (Nigeria)
• Fistong (Equatorial Guinea)
• KiDi (Ghana)
• Paul Fortune (Kenya)
• Reynolds The Gentleman (Ghana)
• Chike (Nigeria)
• Famaso (Equatorial Guinea)

 Global Female Vocalist of the Year

• Vanilla Karr (Equatorial Guinea)
• Sheebah Richer (Uganda)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• Efya (Ghana)
• Teni (Nigeria)
• Nana Ama (Ghana)
• Cuppy (Nigeria)
• Betty G (Ethiopia)
• Midje La Mia (Equatorial Guinea)

 Global Female Act of the Year

• Teni (Nigeria)
• Cuppy (Nigeria)
• Betty G (Ethiopia)
• Afia Mala (Togo)
• Midje La Mia (Equatorial Guinea)

 Global Male Act of the Year

• Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
• Bella Shmurda (Nigeria)
• Mr Leo (Cameroon)
• Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
• Leczy (Nigeria)

Global Best Group of the Year

• DopeNation (Ghana)
• Sauti Sol (Kenya)
• Ethic Entertainment (Kenya)
• Masar Egbari (Egypt)

Global Rapper of the Year

• Yaa Pono (Ghana)
• Terror-D (Sierra Leone)
• Strongman (Ghana)
• Medikal (Ghana)
• Flowking Stone (Ghana)

Global Collaboration of the Year

• ‘Chameleon – Slick Stuart ft. DJ Roga (Uganda)
• ‘Dwe’ – Mr Drew, Krymi, Sarkodie (Ghana)
• ‘Monica’ – Santrinos Raphael ft. Stonebwoy (Togo/Ghana)
• ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan and Lincoln (Nigeria)
• ‘Tugende Mu Church’ – Lexvivone ft. Daddy Andre (Uganda)
• ‘Ulazi’ – Mr Jazziq ft. 9umba (South Africa) 

Global Most Popular Song of the Year

• ‘Putuu’ – Stonebwoy (Ghana)
• ‘Jerusalema’ – Master KG (Southafrica)
• ‘Open Gate’ – Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
• ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan and Lincoln (Nigeria)
• ‘Say Cheese’ – KiDi (Ghana)

Album of the Year

• Thug Diaries – Yaa Pono (Ghana)
• Son of Africa – Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
• Twice As Tall – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Boo of the Booless – Chike (Nigeria)
• Unity – Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)

Global Artist of the Year

• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
• Shatta Wale (Ghana)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Nasty C (South Africa)
• Master KG (South Africa)
• Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania)
• Nutty Neithan (Uganda)
• Stonebwoy (Ghana)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)

 Ghanaian Act of the Year (Male)

• Flo-Eazy 
• Kiaani 
• Nabil Forever
• Epixode
• Zack GH
• Maccasio

 Ghanaian Act of the Year (Female)

• Fantana
• Cocotrey
• Akiyana
• Jayana
• Tiisha
• Queen Haziel
• S3fa
• Kanea
• Yaa Jackson

Most Influential Ghanaian Act of the Year

• Mr Drew
• Amerado
• Black Sheriff
• Fameye
• Abena Serwaa Ophelia
• Kweku Flick
• Yaw Tog

Emerging Ghanaian Artist of the Year

• De Gate Zion
• Zeezy
• Tiatan
• Bruno Kay
• Klarah Kay
• Reggie
• Street Xervice
• Kay Stagger
• Lxrd Xoey
• Mighty

Ghanaian Discovery Artist of the Year

• YT Soldier
• Bruno Kay
• King Prinz
• Freddy X
• Bekey Mills
• Donsam
• Kryspaddy
• Chobo Waguan
• Greatnexx Music

 Young Ghanaian Artist of the Year

• Righteous Vandyke
• Khojo Chavse 
• Chobo Waguan
• Pappy Kubi
• Kofi Wysi
• Eric Oppong
• CZ
• Wiz Papiz
• Plexzo

Best International Act

• Leflyyy (Ghana/ Switzerland)
• Beenie Man (Jamaica)
• Spice (Jamaica)
• Gramps Morgan (Jamaica)