The Ghana Music Awards, now known as Telcel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) after previously being titled Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) due to sponsorship changes,[2][3][4] stands as an annual hallmark event within Ghana's music industry. Since its inception in 1999 by Charter House, a local event organizing company, its primary aim has been to recognize and honour the contributions of Ghanaian musicians towards the advancement and enrichment of the nation's music landscape. This awards ceremony serves as a platform to celebrate the talents and achievements of artists who have played pivotal roles in shaping and expanding the local music scene.[5]
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current: 2022 Ghana Music Awards | |
 The VGMA plaque for the annual "Artist of the Year" winner since 2020. | |
| Awarded for | Outstanding work in the Ghanaian music industry |
| Country | Ghana |
| Presented by | CharterHouse |
| First awarded | 1999 |
| Website | https://ghanamusicawards.com/  |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | Formerly: |
Held each April, May or June, the event is broadcast locally on GHOne TV, GTV and/or TV3 and outside Ghana on Akwaaba Magic on satellite TV platform DStv and terrestrial TV platform GOtv.[6] Prior to the launch of the Akwaaba Magic channel in 2021, the event was broadcast outside Ghana on channels 155 and 198 on DStv and on channel 110 on GOtv.[7] In 2020, the event's precursor, the nominees jam, scheduled for April 4 at Jackson Park in Koforidua, was initially postponed and then cancelled to comply with a national directive on public gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.[8][9][10] The 23rd edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Day 1 was held on Friday night, May 6, 2022.[11] Ghanaian Hip-Hop/Rap artiste Black Sherif won the 24th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year in a night of emotions for Ghanaian artiste.[12] Black Sherif was overly excited. He sang some of his songs with his fans as he mounted the stage to receive his words.[13]Ghana Music Awards is referred as the biggest music night in Ghana.
Trophy
The Ghana Music Awards[14] trophy has been awarded in different forms over the years; with the current one unveiled before the 2019 edition of the event. It consists of a Gold Star plaque with a circular hole and strings on opposite faces, mimicking a guitar.[15]
Artist of the Year
The Artist of the Year award is the highest and most prestigious of the awards given at the event given to the artist(s) adjudged by the CharterHouse, the VGMA Board and the general public as having the highest audience appeal, radio play, online streaming and popularity. The artist(s) must have a released hit single/album during the year under review to qualify/be eligible.[16]Past and present Artist of the Year award winners:
- 1999: Akyeame (Quophi Okyeame and Okyeame Kwame]
- 2000: Daddy Lumba
- 2001: Kojo Antwi
- 2002: Lord Kenya
- 2003: Kontihene
- 2004: V.I.P
- 2005: Bice Osei Kuffour
- 2006: Ofori Amponsah
- 2007: Samini
- 2008: Kwaw Kese
- 2009: Okyeame Kwame
- 2010: Sarkodie
- 2011: V.I.P
- 2012: Sarkodie
- 2013: R2Bees
- 2014: Shatta Wale[17]
- 2015: Stonebwoy[18]
- 2016: E.L
- 2017: Joe Mettle
- 2018: Ebony Reigns[19]
- 2019: Unannounced[a]
- 2020: Kuami Eugene[21]
- 2021: Diana Hamilton
- 2022: KiDi
- 2023: Black Sherif
Locations
The inaugural ceremony in 1999 was held at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra until 2004 when it moved to the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), and it has been held there ever since. With the exception of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 editions of the event which were held at the Dome of the AICC, the event since the move to the AICC was held at its Main Hall until 2018. Since 2019, the event has been held at the Grand Arena (then/previously the New Dome) still at the AICC.
See also
Notes
References
External links
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata
