The nominees for the maiden annual Ghana Music Awards France (GMA France) have been announced with Kuami Eugene, Mr Drew, Sarkodie, Diana Hamilton, Stonebwoy and more earning multiple nominations.
GMA France will honour artists and musicians in 27 categories, including Artist of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Most Popular Song of the Year. Lynx Entertainment artist Kuami Eugene dominates the final list with over 16 nominations. He is followed by Mr. Drew, who has earned 13 nods. Africa’s most decorated rapper, Sarkodie, comes in third with 10.
Set for a July 23 premiere ceremony in Toulouse, France, the event seeks to highlight and acknowledge critically acclaimed musicians and music professionals who ply their trade both at home and abroad, while creating an enabling environment for Ghanaian music in Francophone countries.
According to a statement released by Music In Africa, broadcaster Abeiku Aggrey Santana, who also serves as the awards’ chairman, stated during the launch that the awards will complement efforts by various stakeholders to promote Ghanaian culture and tourism.
“Music plays a crucial role in selling Ghana to the outside world and by the institution of this awards scheme, we look to recognise artists who continue to play a crucial role in the promotion of our culture,” Santana said. “The world has become a global village and we have to make good use of networks and associations to promote Ghana.”
See full list of nominees below:
Artist of the Year
- Sarkodie
- KiDi
- Kuami Eugene
- Diana Hamilton
- Kofi Kinaata
- Fameye
- Black Sherif
Gospel Artist of the Year
- Ohemaa Mercy
- Joe Mettle
- Celestine Donkor
- Kofi Owusu Peprah
- Diana Hamilton
- Empress Gifty
- MOG Music
Gospel Song of the Year
- ‘Only You’ – Celestine Donkor
- ‘Ye Obua Mi’ – Joe Mettle
- ‘Ote Me Mu’ – Ohemaa Mercy
- ‘Awurade Ye’ – Diana Hamilton
- ‘Madansi Die’ – Piesie Esther
- ‘Eye Woaa’ – Empress Gifty
- ‘Obaapa Christy’ – The glory
- ‘Meduru’ – Minister O.J
- ‘Yahweh’ – Akesse Brempong
- ‘Mapek3’ – Scott Evans
Hiplife /Hip Hop Artist of the Year
- Sarkodie
- Medikal
- Amerado
- Black Sherif
- Dope Nation
- Kweku Darlington
- D Black
- Okyeame Kwame
Hiplife Song of the Year
- ‘Second Sermon’ – Black Sherif
- ‘Yeeko’ – Okyeame Kwame ft.. Kuami Eugene
- ‘Biibi Besi’ – Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene
- ‘Abodie’ – Captain Planet ft. Kuami Eugene
- ‘Sika Aba Fie’ – Kweku Darlington ft. Kweku Flick and Yaw Tog
- ‘Heat’ – Wendy Shay ft. Shay Gang
- ‘Enjoyment Minister’ – D Black ft. Stonebwoy and Quamina MP
- ‘Coachella’ – Sarkodie ft. Kwesi Arthur
- ‘Seke’ – Mr Drew ft. Medikal
Hip Hop Song of the Year
- ‘Fake Ex’ – Yaw Tog
- ‘Abotre’ – Amerado ft. Black Sheriff
- ‘Rollies and Cigars’ – Sarkodie
- ‘Winning’ – Kwesi Arthur ft. Vic Mensah
- ‘Undertaker Flow’ – Medikal
Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year
- Shatta Wale
- Stonebwoy
- AK Songstress
- Epixode
- Jupitar
- Samini
- Larruso
- Rocky Dawuni
Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year
- ‘Touch It’ – KiDi
- ‘Picture’ – Samini ft. Efya
- ‘1 Don’ – Shatta Wale
- ‘Sing Along’ – Amerado
- ‘Papa Owura’ – Suro Abubro
- ‘Star Life’ – Jupitar ft. Shatta Wale
- ‘Stonebwoy’– Greedy men
New Artist of the Year
- Black Sherif
- Kweku Darlington
- Kwame Yogot
- Mona4Reall
- Kofi Owusu Peprah
- Scott Evans
- Amaarae
Songwriter of the Year
- Papa Owura – ‘Makoma’
- Fameye – ‘Praise’
- Celestine Donkor – ‘Only You’
- Akwaboah – ‘Ensesa’
- Kofi Kinaata – ‘Thy Grace’
- Okyeame Kwame – ‘Love locked Down’
- Magnus– ‘Bo Me Nantew’
- Minister O.J – ‘Meduru’
Highlife Song of the Year
- ‘ Yard’ – Bisa K Dei
- ‘Obiaa’ –Akwaboah ft. Cina Soul
- ‘Thy Grace’ – Kofi Kinaata
- ‘Tina Fie’ – Kuami Eugene
- ‘Kwadede’ – Kwabena Kwabena
- ‘Fo’ – Mr Drew ft. Kwabena Kwabena
- ‘Feelings’ – Cina Soul
- ‘Eboso’ – R2bees
Highlife Artist of the Year
- Kuami Eugene
- Kwabena Kwabena
- Sista Afia
- Akwaboah
- Kofi Kinaata
- Fameye
- Bisa K Dei
Record of the Year
- ‘Ntro Naa’ – Akwaboah
- ‘Fo’ – Mr Drew ft. Kwabena Kwabena
- ‘BO Noo Ni’ – Abianna
- ‘Adwen Pa’ – Sankofa Crew
- ‘Soro Abuburo’ – Papa Owura
- ‘Ye Obua Mi’ – Joe Mettle
- Okyeame Kwame ft. Adina – Love ocked Down
- ‘Meduru’ – Minister O.J
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Akwaboah – ‘Ntro Naa’
- KiDi – ‘Send Me Nudes’
- Luigi Maclean – ‘Mala’
- King Promise– ‘Slow Down’
- Kuami Eugene– ‘Tina Fie’
- Kwabena Kwabena– ‘Kwadede’
- Kyei Mensah – ‘Great God’
- Kwaisey Pee – ‘Amazing God’
- Akesse Brempong – ‘Yahweh’
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Efe Grace – ‘Overflow’
- Celestine Donkor – ‘Only You’
- Adina – ‘All Correct’
- Cina Soul – ‘Feeling’
- Efya – ‘Picture’
- Abiana – ‘Bo Noo Ni’
- Diana Hamilton – ‘Awurade Ye’
- Mz Vee – ‘Coming Home’
Most Popular Song of the Year
- ‘Forever’ remix – Gyakie ft. Omah Lay
- ‘Sore’ remix – Yaw Tog ft. Stormzy X Kuami Eugene
- ‘Touch It’ – KiDi
- ‘Biibi Besi’ – Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene
- ‘Sika ba Fie’ – Kweku Darlington ft. Yaw Tog X Kweku Flick
- ‘E Choke’ –Sefa ft. Mr Drew
- ‘Thy Grace’ – Kofi Kinaata
- ‘Praise’ – Fameye
- ‘Mood’ – Mr Drew
- ‘Second Sermon’ – Black Sherif
- ‘Ote Me Mu’ – Ohemaa Mercy ft. MOG Music
- ‘Yeeko’ – Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene
- ‘Heat’ – Wendy Shay
- ‘Jonathan’ – AK Songstress
- ‘Enjoyment Minister’ – D Black ft. Stonebwoy X Quamina MP
- ‘Abotre’ – Amerado ft. Black Sheriff
Rapper of the Year
- Amerado – ‘Abotre’
- Sarkodie – ‘Rollies and Cigars’
- Strongman – ‘Last Verse’
- Kwesi Arthur – ‘Winning’
- Okyeame Kwame – ‘Love Locked Down’
- Eno Barony – ‘God is A Woman’
- Manifest – ‘No Fear’
- Obibini – ‘Wudini Anthem’
Afropop Song of the Year
- ‘Heat’ – Wendy Shay ft. Shay Gang
- ‘Slow Down’ – King Promise
- ‘Mood’ – Mr Drew
- E Choke’ – Sefa ft. Mr Drew
- ‘Sad Gurlz Luv Money’ remix – Amaarae ft. Moliy
- ‘Praise’ – Fameye
Afropop Artist of the Year
- Wendy Shay
- Mr Drew
- King Promise
- Sefa
- KiDi
- Adina
- R2Bees
Best Collaboration
- ‘Yeeko’ – Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene
- ‘Sika Aba Fie’ – Kweku Darlington ft. Yaw Tog and Kweku Flick
- ‘Sore’ remix – Yaw Tog ft. Stormzy X Kuami Eugene
- ‘Coachella’ – Sarkodie ft. Kwesi Arthur
- ‘Echoke’ – Sefa ft. Mr Drew
- ‘Fine Wine’ – R2Bees ft. King Promise & Joeboy
- ‘Sika’ – Bisa K Dei ft. Gyakie
- ‘Party Gbee’ – Krymi ft. Kofi Mole & King Maaga
- ‘Seke’ – Mr Drew ft. Medikal
- ‘Ohemaa Mercy’ ft. MOG – Ote me mu
- ‘Abotre’ – Amerado ft. Black Sheriff
- ‘Heat’ – Wendy Shay ft. Shay Gang
Album of the Year
- No Pressure – Sarkodie
- The Golden boy – KiDi
- Alpha – Mr Drew
- Back 2 Basics – R2Bees
- Loyalty, Volume 1 – D Black
- Shayning Star – Wendy Shay
- The Experience – Joe Mettle
- Blessed – Akesse Brempong
EP of the Year
- Time – Yaw Tog
- For Times We lost – Cina Soul
- Patience – Amerado
- Afro Highlife – Kuami Eugene
- The Tape EP – Strongman
Producer of the Year
- ‘Touch It’ – KiDi & Richie Mensah
- ‘Praise’ – Liquid Beatz
- ‘E Choke’ – Rony Turn Me Up
- ‘Mood’ – Beatz Vampire
- ‘Thy Grace’ – Two Bars
- ‘Forever’ remix – Kros
- ‘Dollar On You’ – Kuami Eugene
- ‘Abodie’ – Kuami Eugene
- ‘Winning’ – Juizxx
- ‘Second Sermon’ – Samsney
- ‘Abotr3’ – Samsney
- ‘Jonathan’ – Abochi
- ‘Je M’appelle’ – MOG Beatz
- ‘Heat’ – Fox Beat
Video of the Year
- ‘Fine Girl’ – Mona4Reall
- ‘Odeshie’ – Epixode
- ‘Touch It’ – KiDi
- ‘Ariba’ – Stonebwoy
- ‘Shoulder’ – Adina
- ‘Mood’ – Mr Drew
- ‘Coming Home’ – MzVee
- Sad Gurlz Luv Money’ remix –Amaarae ft. Moliy
International Collaboration of the Year
- ‘Shoulder’ – Adina ft. JazziQ
- ‘Ariba’ – Stonebwoy ft. Focalistic
- ‘Non Living Thing’ – Sarkodie ft. Oxlade
- ‘Coming Home’ – MzVee ft. Tiwa Savage
- ‘Je M’appelle – Darkovibes ft. Davido
- ‘Ring My Line’ – King Promise ft. Headie One
- ‘Some More’ – Mr Drew ft. Seyi Shay
- ‘Vibration’ – Sarkodie ft. Vic Mensah
- ‘Spiritual’ – KiDi ft. Patoranking X Kuami Eugene
- ‘Forever’ remix – Gyakie ft. Omah Lay
- ‘Sore’ remix – Yaw Tog ft. Stormzy and Kwesi Arthur
- ‘Celebrate’ – Kwesi Arthur ft. Teni
- ‘Fever’ – Sefa ft. Sarkodie and DJ Tira
Unsung
- Chief One
- Abbi Ima
- King Maaga
- Shuga Lord
- Roy X Taylor
- Ara Bella
Group of the Year
- R2Bees
- DopeNation
- Bethel Revival Choir
- Sankofa Crew
