Encomium
It was a night of glitz, glamour and panache when music lovers around the world gathered at the Accra International Conference Center on Saturday, April 11, 2015, to celebrate their music icons and idols who were rewarded for hard work and dedication in ensuring their Fans are entertained with the best of music over the year.
Although, the event was a bit delayed because of the heavy downpour just about the time the event was supposed to start. They however, tried not to stay long on the red carpet making it as brief as possible and ushered everybody in for the main event.
The show started with an electrifying and energetic performance by the afro-pop songstress, Noella Wiyaala at exactly 10 p.m Ghanaian time with her hit song, Tinanbaya which left the audience asking for more and setting them in the right mood for the event.
The host and hostess for the night, popular celebrity TV sports presenter, Nathaniel Attoh and sexy top actress, Joselyn Dumah who was dressed in a red hot gown, revealing her shape were next to welcome the audience and give a brief outline of the event for the night. They were supported by one of Ghana’s top comedians, Funny Face, who thrilled with some rib cracking jokes throughout the event.
As the night progressed, music fans were treated to lots of great and timeless music performance from the young and old artistes. Such performances include an inspirational track by Ghanaian UK based gospel musician, Sonnie Badu who thrilled the audience with the popular song, Oghenetega to the admiration of many Nigerians present. Followed by the creative and energetic duo of No Trybe, with gospel songs. They eventually won the gospel artiste of the year which came with a car prize sponsored by the Musical Association of Ghana(MUSIGAL).
Legendary highlife artiste, Daddy Lumbar, who has been around over three decades and known as the originator of love high-life music came on stage and got both the old and younger generations on to their feet dancing.
Star of the night, ragee and dancehall artiste, Stonebowy did not disappoint his large and intimidating fans, as they kept calling out his name before he came on stage and singing songs along with him word for word and they couldn’t get enough of this rasta guy who has been romantically linked with sexy dancehall artiste, Mzvee in recent times.
It was an emotional one for Patoranking when he came on stage to perform. He told his grass to grace story and how Stonebowy, the star of the night helped him back on his feet. After doing his hit song, Girlie O, Sheyi Shay joined him on stage and they performed together.
Yemi Alade also dazzled with her dance with popular hit song, Looking for my Johny which currently enjoys massive air play in Ghana.
One of the surprise performances of the night was when Tic Tac and Tinne came on stage with some oldies. First ,it was TicTac who performed his popular hit song he did with Nigeria’s Tony Tetuila…Fenfelefe, while Tinnie came after him with all the swags he needed to put out a good act for the night as the audience didn’t want him leave the stage.
The high moment of the awards night was when a special tribute was done in honour of the missing talented hip-life artiste, Castro, aka the Destroyer as a video of his humble beginning was played while his biography was being read. His song, Seho won the hiplife song of the year and his younger brother who picked up the award thanked the fans for their support stating he believed strongly that his brother will return alive. It was really an emotional moment for his fans, colleagues and family.
However, some of the surprising moments at the awards, was when EL was announced rapper of the year which has been won by Sarkodie over the years and Efya, who also lost the best female vocalist category to afro-pop artiste, Noella Wiyaala.
It was also however glaring the Marvin Crew and the boss, Don Jazzy were absent at the awards, though the organizers had announced they were part of the event.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID…
EL : BEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR.
Congratulations on your award.
Thank you so much
How do you feel winning the best rapper of the year?
I feel very happy and excited.
Sarkodie has been the winner of this category over the years. Any special feeling for winning it this year?
I feel good about the award but, it is dedicated to all the rappers because we are brothers.
NOELLA WIYAALA:
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR.
How do you feel winning this award?
We really excited about the award and I use the word we because my team and I are really happy we got the award because it showed we are appreciated.
LIST OF WINNERS
BEST GOSPEL SONG:CECILIA AMANFO (ALPHA AND OMEGA)
HIGHLIFE SONG : DADDY LUMBA
RECORD DANCEHALL OF THE YEAR: STONEBOWY (BHIM NATION)
AFRO POP SONG :EDEM( QUINEE)
HIPLIFE SONG: CASTRO( SEHO)
HIP-HOP SONG : PAPPY KOJO AND JOEY B (REELER NO)
GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR: NO TRYBE
HIGH LIFE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR: DADDY LUMBA
HIP-HOP/HIP-LIFE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR: SARKODIE
DANCEHALL/RAGGEA ARTISTE: STONEBOWY
AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR: PATORANKING
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST: N)ELLA WIYAALA
BEST MALE VOCALIST: JOE METTLE
BEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR: EL
BEST COLLABORATION: SARKODIE AND CASTRO
BEST GROUP: VVIP
BEST MUSIC VIDEO: EDEM( QUINEE)
ROLL CALL OF CELEBRITIES
CHIEF DELE MOMODU
YVONNE NELSON
EL
STEMAHPHANIE BENSON
BOLA RAY
REGGIE ROCKSTONE
JOSELYN DUMAH
BECCA
SHEYI SHAY
PATORANKING
YEMI ALADE
STONEBOWY
DBLACK
DADDY LUMBA
TICTAC
TINNIE
JOEYB
NATHANIEL ATTOH
DJ BLACK
PAPPY KOJO
MZVEE
NUELLA WIYAALA
LYDIA FORSON
