You see, I have been doing this for the past 11 years. I’m even tired of writing the same things in different form every year so far as the Ghana Music Awards is concerned. It’s another year. Here we go!
Winners will be declared on Saturday April 9, 2011 at the Dome, Accra International Conference Centre. Below are my predicted winners for the night. And before you start spewing gibberish, don’t forget this is what we think and NOT what will happen on the night.
Yea! Good luck to the nominees. In case you forgot, we are responsible for our predictions.
Below are GhanaCelebrities.Com predictions for the night. What we think will necessarily not be the outcome of the awards. Therefore we wish all the nominated artistes good luck:
FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS AND OUR PREDICTIONS IN CAPITALS WITH **
A. Artiste(s) of the Year
No Tribe
Cecilia Marfo
Samini
Castro
VIP**
Kwabena Kwabena
I recollect saying in the last quarter of last year that, VIP will be first to win the coveted Artiste of the Year twice. The trio won it in 2004 GMA with ‘Ahomka Wom’ produced by Jay Q. I’m marvelously confident that, they will win it again this year.
Even if it will elude them, No Tribe will grab. None of the other nominees deserves this accolade.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB3qAvoALzw
B. Most Popular Song of the Year
Kiss Your Hand – R2Bees Feat Wande Coal
AFRICAN GIRLS – CASTRO**
Away – VIP
Afunumu Ba – Cecilia Marfo
Wengeze – Eazzy
Bohye – No Tribe
Eha Ye De – Nana Boro
I dare say, Nana Boro’s ‘Aha Ye De’ was the favourite until ‘African Girls’ by Castro came into the picture. Don’t forge that, the GMA is a popularity based award scheme and this I believe will push AFRICAN GIRLS – CASTRO to win. No second choice for me, Its Castro, we are back on on on on on on!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjOb6OA3SVo
C. Discovery of the Year
Jay Ghartey
Eazzy
IWAN**
Nana Boro
Trigmatic
Herty Bongreat
Bless
If we are using number of performances for this category, then it will be a straight one between Eazzy, Nana Boro and Trigmatic. However, IWAN is my favourite because he has lots of hits on his album.
I’m seriously in love with Bless [hey, I love highlife too] and I hope he wins it. But If Iwan doesn’t win because he is a reggae/dance hall artiste, then the first three artistes I mentioned will fight for this one. Good luck Iwan, he still remains my favourite for this one.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn3LYpdhTxI
D. Hip Hop Song of the Year
GET ON THE DANCE FLOOR – D-BLACK**
My Life – Trigmatic
Intoxicated by Richie
Bo Wonsem Ma Nie – Eazzy
No More Kpayor – Asem
Guns & Roses – JTown
I think its disrespectful for JTown to be nominated in this category. How many people have heard his song? This award might go to the three songs from Lynx Entertainment [Intoxicated by Richie / Bo Wonsem Ma Nie – Eazzy / No More Kpayor – Asem].
But I dey feel GET ON THE DANCE FLOOR – D-BLACK. This is what I call a perfect example of Hip Hop from Ghana. No More Kpayor by Asem is my second choice.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlvCDXrSxB0
E. Hip Life Song of the Year
Away – VIP**
African Girls – Castro
Mugu – Akoo Nana
Eha Ye De – Nana Boro
Female Friend – Reggie Rockstone
Democracy – Guru
Wow! Good year for Akoo Nana. I think Democracy and Female Friend by Guru and Reggie Rockstone respectively are not that popular to win.
I’m torn between Away – VIP and African Girls – Castro. I’m going for VIP but Castro looks great here too. Aya Ye De by Nana Boro will be plotting coup against those two, I know.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8L2efxym98
F. Hip Life/Hip Hop Artiste(s) of the Year
D-Black
Eazzy
VIP**
Trigmatic
Castro
R2Bees
It will be an insult if VIP doesn’t win this one too! No nominee in this category comes near them when it comes to performances, they performed almost everywhere in the country and nailed it every time. No contest, hands down!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB3qAvoALzw
G. Gospel Song of the Year
Odo Ben Ni – Herty Bongreat
Bohye – No Tribe
Nhyira Ba – Ceccy Twum
God Never Fails – Florence Obinim & Princess Ifeoma
Onyame Di Hene – Ernest Opoku
HALLELUYAH – CEE**
I always get my gospel predictions wrong. But that will not stop me from coming up with another. I will gamble again, what do I have to lose if I don’t get it right this time around too? Nothing!
HALLELUYAH – CEE will remain my favourite gospel song for a long time. I love this song, the melody is tight. Thank you Isaac of TV3 Mentor fame and Ampong for adding your voices to my favourite song. This song remains my first and second choice.
H. Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year
Herty Bongreat
NO TRIBE**
Ernest Opoku
Cee
Florence Obinim
Cecilia Marfo
I have seen lots of show under the year reviewed. NO TRIBE a gospel group has been the only non secular musicians to perform at most of the shows. And indeed, they have rocked each other. They are just beautiful to watch. Because of them, my interest in gospel is growing. They are my favourite for this one too!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnk5Tr6yHk
I. High Life Song of the Year
DZATA BI – ADANE BEST**
Meda Enda – Bless
Dadea Anoma – Kwabena Kwabena
Anadwo Yi Dea – Daddy Lumba
Yaa Amponsah – Unit Cash
Megye Apem – Daasebre Gyamena
Not many people speak and understand the Ga language however when it comes to music, language should not be a problem. Well, he recorded a Twi version to appease people who don’t understand Ga.
Though people say DZATA BI – ADANE BEST is a political song, I CARE LESS! It’s my favourite for this category. Meda Enda by Bless is another good song; I will smile if he wins it.
It will be no news if Kwabena Kwabena’s Dadea Anoma wins it. Good luck Adane Best!
J. Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year
Daddy Lumba
KWABENA KWABENA**
Adane Best
Bless
Interestingly, KWABENA KWABENA will pick this one. I’m not expecting any surprises with this one. Don’t you think, this award will be too big for Bless? If Adane Best wins it, I will be happy too!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imsTPELDTuc
K. Afro-Pop Song of the Year
My Lady – Jay Ghartey
Kiss Your Hand – R2Bees
MOVE BACK – 5FIVE**
Sweet Mistake – Samini
Wengeze – Eazzy
Miss Doctor – 4×4
I wish I can remain silent on this one! But hell no. Kiss Your Hand by R2Bees and Sweet Mistake by Samini have been in the public domain for a very long time but we all know that Ghanaians are very forgetful.
Why I think MOVE BACK – 5FIVE is the favourite to win is because it’s a new entrant. The controversy it generated will win it for Bullhaus Entertainment. I will be surprise if it doesn’t win!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=errPy5KwxAI
L. Reggae Song of the Year
African Reggae Fever – Rocky Dawuni
THANKS & PRAISE – IWAN**
Tongue Tied – Sammi B
Trigga – Samini
Independence – Na U
When You’re Gone – Sonni Bali
Oopss! I’m no fan of reggae music. Unfortunately I have not listened to Sammi B’s Tongue Tied, Na U’s Independence and Sonni Bali’s When You’re Gone. If they were popular enough, I would have listened to them.
Nonetheless I will opt for THANKS & PRAISE – IWAN because it’s very inspiring and has appropriate lyrics. Trigga by Samini is my second choice.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn3LYpdhTxI
M. Best Collaboration of the Year
Somebody – DBlack feat. Kwabena Kwabena
AFRICAN GIRLS – CASTRO FEAT. ASAMOAH GYAN**
Kiss Your Hand – R2Bees feat. Wande Coal
Afunumu Ba – Cecilia Marfo feat Ernest Opoku
I Need It – Tinny feat. Donaeo
God Never Fails – Florence Obinim feat. Princess Ifeoma
Hallelujah – Cee feat Isaac & Ampong
This is another tight category. It’s shame that Nana Boro’s Aha Ye De featuring SK Blinks wasn’t nominated. One person must win this category and I will go for AFRICAN GIRLS – CASTRO FEAT. ASAMOAH GYAN. Okay! I will not say anything more.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjOb6OA3SVo
N. Best Rapper of the Year
Sway – Intoxicated
J-Town – Guns & Roses
GURU – DEMOCRACY**
Trigmatic – My Life
Reggie Rockstone – Female Friend
This category surely doesn’t make sense. Oopss! I hope it will be scrapped. Funny category! I think Asem should have been here too. GURU – DEMOCRACY is my pick. Trigmatic will be my second choice. I’m not really into this category. Good luck nominees.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skZR-XGa1ac
Q. African Artiste(s) of the Year
2face
Asa
Uche Agbo
K’NAAN**
Meiway
Hmmm! 2face is the only nominated artiste who is billed to perform on the awards night. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
K’Naan became a hero at the first World Cup on the African continent in South Africa with his song Wave Your Flag. You might want to say he will win it because the World Cup is universal whiles 2face is only known in Africa. K’NAAN will be my favourite but it looks like 2face.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgkcfaD28tg
THE INDUSTRY CATEGORIES:
Record of the Year
Tongue Tied – Sammi B
Dadea Anoma – Kwabena Kwabena
Little Things – Efya
So Wild – Jay Ghartey
LAGOS TO VIENNA – KNII LANTE**
My Life – Trigmatic
Per the description of this category, I will go in for LAGOS TO VIENNA – KNII LANTE and I hope he wins it. Such a nice tune from a fine medical doctor. Good luck Dr. Nii Lante Blankson. But any nominee can win this one also.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4FSKMkUOBE
Songwriter Of The Year
Asem & Efya – Litte Things
Pastor Boamah – Afunumu Ba
D-Black & Kwabena Kwabena – Somebody
TRIGMATIC – MY LIFE**
Bless – Meda Enda
Kwabena Kwabena – Dadea Anoma
I will go in for TRIGMATIC – MY LIFE. If there is any category that Trigmatic deserves more, then it’s this particular one.
If he ends up winning only this one [most likely], he should just be happy and proud of himself, because only few people do songs with inspiring lyrics such as his.
Such a great tune, it serves as a wakeup call for people who have lost faith and hope. Indeed, no body knows tomorrow! But hey I’m in for surprises.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MXOUizqbZA
Album of the Year
Permanent Stains – Trigmatic
Shining Gold – Jay Ghartey
Three (Father, Son & Holy Ghost) – No Tribe
Music, Love & Life – D-Black
PROGRESS – VIP**
Faithfulness – Cecilia Marfo
C.E.O. – Samini
I’m going in for PROGRESS – VIP. Four of their tracks on their current album Progress have been enjoying massive airplay. Tracks such as ‘I Think I Like Am’, ‘Away’, ‘My Baby’ feat. Flavour N’abania, ‘Yaayi’ feat. FOI & D-Flex. The rest of the nominees, I know have three to two hit tracks on their various albums. I have made my choice and I hope they win it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB3qAvoALzw
Best Male Vocal Performance (Solo/Group)
Kwabena Kwabena – Dadea Anoma
KNii Lante – Bo Noo
Ernest Opoku – Onyame Di Hene
MORRIS D’VOICE – SANKU**
Nana Fynn – Santrofi
Nacy – Di Kan
It looks like Kwabena Kwabena here too but my pick is MORRIS D’VOICE – SANKU. Nana Fynn can also win this. I’m ready for surprises.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiv34wfJK8g
Best Female Vocal Performance (Solo/Group)
EFYA**
Cecilia Marfo
Herty Bongreat
Ceccy Twum
Christiana Love
Cindy Thompson
This one belongs to the girl who changed her name from Jane to EFYA. Aside having a good voice, she is creative and confident on the microphone!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNFbROdgZWA
Other industry awards on the night would include: best music video, traditional artist of the year, instrumentalist of the year, MUSIGA merit award, producer of the year and the World Bank best music for development.
By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr./GhanaCelebrities.Com/Ghana
why is the gma is always held at the international centre? its time dat the government stops choppin our money and starts helpin ntertainment industry by building new building bigger ones
I hope Cecilia Marfo or Kwabena Kwabena wil win artiste of de year..or dey shd just win most of de awards in their categories..no kululu organizers..
How much did vip pay u guys? Won’t get more dan 2 right jus mark
i think cecilia marfo deserves all the awards that she has been nominated for.the track afunu ba enjoyed all the air play and was very popular as well.
Samini all the way he go collect like three award cos his tracks all be more u poeple say v i p every where ba dem no bring anything fresh