VGMA 2018: Ebony leads the pack in historic win

Since her death in February just before her 21st birthday, Ebony had been the centre figure in discussions around the VGMAs. Would she become the first artist to win the top award Artist of the Year posthumously? Would she be the first female act to win that prize? Would she best Shatta Wale who said he deserved to win prior to her death?

In the end all of these questions were answered emphatically, as work released by Ebony won four awards at the event. Rapper Sarkodie earned four trophies but his came in lesser categories. Besides taking the coveted Artist of the Year award, Ebony also won Album of the Year for Bonyfied and Afropop Song of the Year for ‘Sponsor’. The Songwriter of the Year award was won by Ebony’s manager Bullet. He wrote the lyrics to ‘Maame Hw3’, one of Ebony’s last singles. In death, Ebony made history as both first artist to win the VGMA top award in death and the first female act to win same award as well.

Elsewhere, one the most popular songs from Ghana ‘One Corner’ was snubbed as Song of the Year. Fancy Gadam’s ‘Total Cheat’ won that award. The Amamerefo Music and Dance Ensemble won the Traditional Artist of the Year award while Dominic Quashie won the Instrumental Artist of the Year category. Mary Naa Amanua Doodo won the life achievement award. Doodo performed as part of the Ghanaian group Wulomei, which was established in 1973.

In a strong showing, last year’s big winner gospel act Joe Mettle won Gospel Song of the Year for ‘Bo Noo Ni’; he was also named Male Vocalist of the Year and Gospel Artist of the Year. Stonebwoy and Sarkodie once again took the Best Artist awards for their genres dancehall and rap respectively.

Shatta Wale who had returned to the VGMA list of nominees after years of a dispute with the organisers Charterhouse Productions left with one award. He won the Best Collaboration award for ‘Taking Over’.

Full list of winners below:

Artist of the Year

Ebony

Gospel Song of the Year

‘Bo Noo Ni' by Joe Mettle

Hip-hop Song of the Year

'Grind Day (Remix)' by Kwesi Arthur

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

‘My Own’ by Samini

Hiplife Song of the Year

‘Total Cheat’ by Fancy Gadam ft Sarkodie

Afropop Song of the Year

‘Sponsor’ by Ebony

Highlife Song of the Year

‘Odo’ by Kidi

Gospel Artist of the Year

Joe Mettle

Highlife Artist of the Year

Kuami Eugene

Hiplife/Hip-hop Artist of the Year

Sarkodie

Songwriter of the Year

Bullet for ‘Maame Hw3’

Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year

Stonebwoy

Best Collaboration of the Year

Shatta Wale & SM Militants (Taking Over)

Rapper of the Year

Sarkodie

Best Group of the Year

Wutah

Best Music Video of the Year

‘Obi Agyi Obi Girl’ by Gyo of Phamous Philms

Best Male Vocalist of the Year

Joe Mettle

Best Female Vocalist of the Year

Adina

African Artist of the Year

Davido

Record of the Year

‘State of the Art’ by Teephlow

Best New Artist of the Year

Kuami Eugene

Song of the Year

‘Total Cheat’ by Fancy Gadam ft Sarkodie

Album of the Year

Bonyfied (Ebony)

Traditional Artist of the Year

Amamerefo Music and Dance Ensemble

Instrumental Artist of the Year

Dominic Quashie

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mary Naa Amanua Doodo of Wulomei