Ghana’s music awards: Recognition, controversies, and the case for Dunsin’s legacy

From 1999 till date, the Ghana Music Awards scheme which is currently known as Telecel Ghana Music Awards because it is proudly sponsored by telecommunication network, Telecel has carved a niche for itself as arguably the best awards scheme in Ghana.

The 4Syte TV Music Video Awards, launched in 2009 by 4Syte TV, is one of Ghana’s top award schemes recognising excellence in music video production. It honours musicians, directors, and cinematographers for creativity and innovation in categories like Best Directed Video, Best Storyline, and Overall Best Video. Over the years, the awards have set high standards for music visuals in Ghana, influencing trends and encouraging artists to invest in quality productions.

Somewhere in 2018, 3 Music Networks which was founded by Baba Sadiq started the 3 Music Awards scheme as well and frankly, they have been doing their best to give Telecel Ghana Music Awards a run for their money. 

Another year is here and definitely, these awards schemes will soon call on musicians and record labels to submit their works for consideration by the various boards they will institute to consider them and place them in categories they deserve to enable stakeholders and music lovers decide on what award should be given to a particular musician, music group, instrumentalist, engineers, producers and many others based on the work they did under the year under review.

Ahead of this annual exercise, talented Ghanaian musician, Sparqlyn, who is known in private life as Ahmmed Kanneh Larweh, has hit hard at the organisers of various music awards in Ghana.

The former member of the music group Dunsin in a recent interview indicated that he is not happy with the manner their erstwhile very vibrant music group had been overlooked with regards to awards all these years even though they very deserving of some particular awards.

The development chief of Krobo Odumase wonders why Ghana’s awards schemes have overlooked the group's past work, despite their notable contributions.

Sparqlyn listed their songs like ‘Oyeadieye,’ ‘Kwansema,’ ‘Fefeefe,’ and other hits, which were all street anthems when they were released, to buttress his point.

The ‘Your Body’ crooner went further to state that all these songs they released more than a decade ago are enjoying a lot of airplay even now, which goes to show that they deserve some honour.

He emphasised that it is not too late for at least one of these recognised award schemes to do the needful and honour the group, which is now defunct.

Sparqlyn also called on these awards schemes to do their due diligence and place artists in their right categories and ensure that the usual acrimony that follows and fills the media space after every award event is avoided this year because when it is all over and done, every artist will be convinced that whoever won a particular award deserved it.

As it stands now, Sparqlyn is working as a solo artist, just as his former group buddies. Even though they are separated and working tirelessly on their separate projects, Sparqlyn firmly believes that cannot be a barrier.

In the year 2009, the song ‘Oyeadieye,’ performed by Dunsin, was nominated for the Hiplife Song of the Year by the Ghana Music Awards. The group also received a triple nomination with the music video for their song ‘Oyeadieye’ at the 2010 edition of the 4syte TV Music Video Awards. Also, they were nominated for the Best Group of the Year, Choreography of the Year, and Best Storyline of the Year.

After the release of their song ‘Fefeefe’ in the year 2016, Dunsin was nominated at the 2017 edition of the Ghana Music Awards for the Best Group of the Year category but they failed to win that award as well.

Despite all the local snub however, Sparqlyn while with Dunsin Dunsin received international acclaim at the Musician Union of South Africa (MUSA) awards in 2013.

The group was honoured with the titles of ‘Most Exciting Group in Africa’ and ‘Most African Video’ at the MUSA event, held at Lyttelton Centurion, Pretoria.

Fiifi Adinkra is a music executive from Ghana. The opinions and views expressed herein are solely his own and do not reflect the position or stance of the publication.