VGMA: CHECKOUT “ARTISTE OF THE YEAR ” WINNERS FROM 1999 TO 2019
Ghana music awards festival is an annual music awards scheme organised by Charterhouse to reward and honour hardworking Ghanaian artistes of all genres.
Since its inception in 1999, music lovers and fans of various artistes have been trilled with lots of excitement at the event.
This article takes a look at previous winners of the ultimate ‘Artiste of the Year ‘ title that all artistes look up to.
‘Artiste of the Year’ is the topmost award at the Ghana Music Awards, given to the artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board, and the general public as having the highest audience appeal and popularity. The artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
Here is a compilation of all musicians who have won ‘Artiste of the Year’ from 1999 to 2018:
1999
Artiste: Akyeame ( Daniel ‘Quophi’ Amoateng and Kwame ‘Quame’ Nsiah-Apau)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Mesan Aba’ ft. Nana Quame, Mary Agyepong & Yoggi Doggi
Facts: Unfortunately, the group Akyeame broke up in 2004 after entertaining fans over a period of seven years.
2000
Artiste : Daddy Lumba (Born Charles Kwadwo Fosu)
Genre: Highlife
Hit song for that year: ‘Aben wa ha’
Facts: The artiste’s hit song ‘Aben wa ha’ was subjected to a lot of criticisms due to its supposed sexually suggestive lyrics.
2001
Artiste : Kojo Antwi
Genre: Highlife
Hit song for that year: ‘Tom and Jerry’
Facts: Nicked named ‘The Maestro’ was the first Ghanaian winner at the Kora Awards, winning Best Male Artiste of West Africa in 2000 and 2003.
2002
Artiste : Lord Kenya (Born Abraham Philip Akpor Kojo)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Medo’
Facts: The rapper turned pastor was the first rapper to win that award
2003
Artiste : Kontihene (Born Emmanuel Nana Appiah Boateng)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Aketesia’
Facts: The song ‘Aketesia’ from his debut album Nyankonton was an instant hit that shot him to fame.
2004
Artiste : V.I.P ( Abdul ‘Lazzy’ Hamid Ibrahim, Joseph ‘Prodigal’ Nana Ofori, Emmanuel ‘Promzy’ Ababio)
Genre: Highlife
Hit song for that year: ‘Ahomka Womu’
Facts: The groups hit song ‘Ahomka Womu’ was number one on the Ghanaian charts for over 20 weeks. During that year, the initial group of six had lost three of its members officially.
2005
Artiste : Obuor (Born Bice Osei Kuffour)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Konkontiba’
Facts: Obuor released several hit songs which included the controversial smash hit ‘Konkontiba’.
2006
Artiste : Ofori Amponsah
Genre: Highlife
Hit song for that year: ‘Otoolege’
Facts: The silky voice artiste won seven awards in one night at the 2006 VGMA awards.
2007
Artiste : Samini (Born Emmanuel Andrew Samini)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Odo’
Facts: His ability to fuse dancehall with hiplife makes him an exceptional act.
2008
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Odiem’
Facts: The Swedru born rapper has over the years carved a name for himself as the ‘King of the Streets’.
2009
Artiste : Okyeame Kwame (Born Kwame Nsiah-Apau)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Woso’
Facts: Okyeame Kwame won the topmost awards as a solo artiste after 10 years in the music industry, it was his second win after winning the first edition with Okyeame Quophi as a group.
2010
Artiste : Sarkodie (Born Michael Owusu Addo)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Babe’
Facts: ‘Babe’, was off his first album and was an instant hit.
2011
Artiste : V.I.P (Abdul ‘Lazzy’ Hamid Ibrahim, Joseph ‘Prodigal’ Nana Ofori, Emmanuel ‘Promzy’ Ababio)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘Away’
Facts: It was the first time a group has won the Artiste of the Year on two occasions.
2012
Artiste : Sarkodie (Born Michael Owusu Addo)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: ‘U go Kill Me’
Facts: Sarkodie made history by becoming the first solo artiste to win the topmost award twice. His hit song ‘U go Kill Me’ was released to commemorate the Azonto era in Ghana music.
2013
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: Odo
Facts: The Tema based group won five awards that year and their ultimate win ‘Artist of Year’ came along with a brand-new MG 550 saloon car.
2014
Artiste : Shatta Wale (Born Charles Nii Armah)
Genre: Dancehall
Hit song for that year: Dancehall King
Facts: Even though he won the Artiste of the Year award, Shatta Wale was not around to pick is award due to a misunderstanding between himself and the organisers before the show.
2015
Artiste : Stonebwoy (Born Livingstone Etse Satekla)
Genre: Dancehall
Hit song for that year: Baafira
Facts: Stonebwoy after winning the ultimate award of the night went on to win the Best International Act at the BET Awards.
2016
Artiste : E.L (Born Elorm Adablah)
Genre: Hiplife
Hit song for that year: Koko
Facts: Rapper /music producer released an inspirational ‘Koko’ track that won the hearts of many Ghanaians.
2017
Artiste : Joe Mettle (Born Joseph Oscar Nii Armah Mettle)
Genre: Gospel
Hit song for that year: Onwanwani
Facts: Joe Mettle became the first gospel act to win the topmost award.
2018
Artiste : Ebony Reigns (Born Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng)
Genre: Dancehall
Hit song for that year: ‘Sponsor’
Facts: The late Ebony Reigns made history as the first woman to win the Artiste of the year in the VGMAs.
2019
Organisers failed to announce the winner.
As Ghana Music Awards enters its 21st year, who would be adjudged its 18th ‘Artiste of the Year’?
Could it be Kofi Kinaata, Diana Hamilton or Kuami Eugene, Sarkodie or Medikal.
Of the nominated artistes, only Sarkodie has won the ultimate prize before – 2010 and 2012. He could be the first artiste to bag a hat-trick.
All other contenders have won at least a different category. Kinaata won the Song Writer of the Year and Best New Artiste of the Year awards at the 2016 edition of the Ghana Music Awards.
His hit song ‘Things Fall Apart’, which is filed for the 2020 Artiste of the Year, is a critique on Christianity and it has been the subject of sermons in churches.
Kuami Eugene, a relatively new kid on the block, won the VGMA 2018 High-life Song of the Year.
Popular Ghanaian gospel, Diana Antwi Hamilton won the 2019 Gospel Song of the Year award after seeing off competition from Joe Mettle, KODA, and Obaapa Christy. She won the award with her ‘Mo Ne Yo’ song.
Her song ‘ Wa’ sem’ makes an entry for the title of Artiste of the Year award.
Medikal is the reigning champion for rapper of the year, he will certainly love to upgrade his status with the artist of the year award.
An award category for which he has been nominated, thanks to songs like ‘Omo Ada.
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