Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2021: Diana Hamilton is Artist of the Year

Hamilton, the renowned musician behind local hits including ‘W’asem’, ‘Mo Ne Yo’ and ‘Adom’, clinched the award ahead of Adina, KiDi, Medikal, Sarkodie and Kuami Eugene, who won the coveted trophy at last year’s edition.

In addition to the ultimate prize, which makes Hamilton the first female gospel act to be crowned Artist of the Year, she walked away with the awards for Most Popular Song of the Year, Gospel Artist of the Year and Gospel Song of the Year to become the biggest winner at the 2021 VGMAs.

“Family, what God cannot do does not exist,” she wrote on Facebook shortly after her big win. “I’m trying to put this all together but making sense of it means I’ll be doubting God’s ability. To everyone who supported me through your prayers, words of encouragement, public or private support, I am very grateful. It’s been a long day and a bit. This is to encourage somebody out there – the road might be long but it will be worth it, just trust the process!”

‘Enjoyment’ hitmaker KiDi won the Highlife Artist of the Year, EP of the Year, Afrobeat/Afropop Artist of the Year, Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year and Highlife Song of the Year awards. Adina, who won the Record of the Year Award on the previous night, took home the Album of the Year and Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year trophies.

Going into the night, KiDi was widely believed to be Hamilton’s biggest rival in the Artist of the Year category. The musician, who released his sophomore album days earlier, chalked up impressive accomplishments in the year under review, notable among them the release of the commercially acclaimed Blue EP, and securing a deal with US multimedia, music publishing and entertainment company Made in East New York.

“It’s very, very hard to win against the religious side of GH at almost any level," journalist Gary Al-Smith commented after Hamilton’s victory. “Joe Mettle proved it. Diana Hamilton proves it again. The gospel side doesn’t make much noise. But the influence is huge. And, when a gospel song is a hit, it is not just one song. It’s a whole movement. Hard luck to KiDi. Come back stronger next time.”

Elsewhere, Sarkodie took home the Best Collaboration Award for his song ‘Happy Day‘ featuring Kuami Eugene. Medikal won the Best Hip Hop/Hiplife Artist of the Year Award while Kofi Kinaata, who picked up the Songwriter of the Year Award for ‘Behind the Scenes’ the previous day, received the Vodafone Green Award for his campaign against illegal fishing.

The main awards night witnessed performances from Eno Barony, Mr Drew, KiDi, Joeboy, Kwesi Arthur and Adina. Sarkodie led a special tribute performance to hiplife artist Castro, who is believed to have drowned during a jet ski incident at Ada Beach in 2014. He is expected to be declared legally deceased next month.

Meanwhile, Day 1 of the 2021 VGMAs saw significant victories for Richie Mensah, who picked up the awards for Sound Engineer of the Year and Producer of the Year. Gospel singer MOG Music won his second consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year trophy while highlife veteran Bob Pinodo was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. South Africa’s Master KG won the African Artist of the Year Award.

Below is the complete list of winners from the 22nd VGMAs:

Gospel Song of the Year

• ‘Blessed’ – Akesse Brempong ft. Joe Mettle
• ‘Favour Everywhere’ – Celestine ft. Evelyn Wanjiru
• ‘Adom’ – Diana Hamilton
• ‘Jesus Over Do’ – Empress Gifty
• ‘Yesu Mo’ – Joe Mettle
• ‘Jesus’ – MOG Music
• ‘Jejeli’ – KobbySalm ft. Okey Sokay
• ‘Who Say God No Dey’ – Kofi Karikari

Highlife Song of the Year

• ‘Posti Me’ – Akwaboah
• ‘Playboy’ – Dada Hafco ft. Akwaboah
• ‘Enjoyment’ – KiDi
• ‘Behind The Scenes’ – Kofi Kinaata
• ‘Open Gate’ – Kuami Eugene
• ‘Asabone’ – Lord Paper ft. Bosom P-Yung
• ‘Later’ – Mr Drew ft. Kelvyn Boy
• ‘Party’ – Sista Afia ft. Fameye

Hiplife Song of the Year

• ‘Thank God’ – DopeNation ft. Kofi Kinaata
• ‘Enough Is Enough’ – Eno Barony ft. Wendy Shay
• ‘Long Life’ – Fameye ft. Kwesi Arthur
• ‘No Dulling’ – Keche ft. Kuami Eugene
• ‘Dw3 Remix’ – Krymi ft. Drew ft. All-Stars
• ‘Pilolo’ – Strongman ft. Kelvyn Boy
• ‘Happy Day’ – Sarkodie ft. Kuami Eugene
• ‘Ghetto Boy’ – Tulenkey ft. Kelvyn Boy & Medikal

Hip Hop Song of the Year

• ‘Ataa Adwoa’ – Bosom PYung
• ‘Otan Hunu’ – Dead Peepol ft. Rich Kent. Akobam – Joey B ft. Medikal & Kofi Mole
• ‘Ekorso’ – Kofi Jamar ft. Yaw Tog & Ypee
• ‘Money’ – Kweku Flick Live from 233 – Kwesi Arthur
• ‘La Hustle Remix’ – Medikal ft. Joey B & Criss Waddle
• ‘Sore’ – Yaw Tog ft. O’kenneth, City Boy, Reggie, Jay Bahd
• ‘Force Dem To Play Nonsense’ – Eno Barony ft. Sister Derby & Strongman

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

• ‘Why’ – Adina
• ‘Sheriff’ – MzVee
• ‘Forever’ – Samini
• ‘Lonely’ – Jah Lead
• ‘Killy Killy Rmx’ – Larruso ft. Stonebwoy & Kwesi Arthur
• ‘Make Up’ – Kaphun ft. Stonebwoy
• ‘Gye Diee’ – Ras Kuuku ft. MOG Music
• ‘Mi Dey Up Rmx’ – Kofi Jamar ft. Stonebwoy

Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year

• ‘Take Care of You’ – Adina ft. Stonebwoy
• ‘Inna Song’ – Darkovibes ft. King Promise
• ‘Forever’ – Gyakie
• ‘Momo’ – KelvynBoy ft. Mugeez & Darkovibes
• ‘Say Cheese’ – KiDi
• ‘Sisa’ – King Promise
• ‘Turn On the Lights’ – Kwesi Arthur
• ‘Let Me Know’ – Mr Drew
• ‘Maria’ – Camidoh
• ‘Emergency’ – Wendy Shay

Afrobeats/Afropop Artist of the Year

• Adina
• Darkovibes
• Camidoh
• KelvynBoy
• KiDi
• King Promise
• Mr. Drew
• Wendy Shay

Unsung Act

• Nanky
• Oseikrom Sikani
• Malcolm Nuna
• Kwame Yogot
• Kobby Tuesday
• Naana Blu
• Adelaide The Seer
• Queendalyn Yurglee

Gospel Artist of the Year

• Akesse Brempong
• Joe Mettle
• Celestine Donkor
• Diana Hamilton
• Empress Gifty
• MOG Music
• Efe Grace
• Eric Jeshrun

Highlife Artist of the Year

• Akwaboah
• Fameye
• Kofi Kinaata
• Kuami Eugene
• Sista Afia
• Dada Hafco

Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year

• Epixode
• Samini
• Ras Kuuku
• Kaphun
• Larruso

Hiplife/Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• Eno Barony
• Joey B
• Keche
• Kofi Jamar
• Kwesi Arthur
• Medikal
• Sarkodie
• Yaw TOG

Best Collaboration of the Year

• ‘Take Care of You’ – Adina ft. Stonebwoy
• ‘Inna Song’ – Darkovibes ft. King Promise
• ‘No Dulling’ – Keche ft. Kuami Eugene
• ‘One Man’ – KiDi ft. Adina
• ‘Ekorso’ – Kofi Jamar ft. Yaw TOG & Ypee
• ‘La Hustle Remix’ – Medikal ft. Joey B & Criss Waddle.
• ‘Happy Day’ – Sarkodie ft. Kuami Eugene
• ‘Sore’ – Yaw TOG ft. O’kenneth, City Boy, Reggie, Jay Bahd

Best Rap Performance

• ‘Best Rapper’ – Amerado
• ‘God Is A Woman’ – Eno Barony
• ‘Cold’ – Joey B
• ‘Stop It’ – Medikal
• ‘Brown Paper Bag’ – Sarkodie ft. M.anifest
• Flawless – Strongman

International Collaboration of the Year

• ‘Favor Everywhere’ – Celestine Donkor ft. Evelyn Wanjiru
• ‘The One’ – Efya ft Tiwa Savage
• ‘Something Nice’ – Kofi Kinaata ft. Patoranking
• ‘Show Body’ – Kuami Eugene ft. Falz
• ‘Baajo’ – Kwesi Arthur ft. Joeboy
• ‘CEO Flow’ – Sarkodie ft. E-40
• ‘Paper’ – Sista Afia ft Victor AD
• ‘Thomas Pompoyeyaw Rmx’ – Pappy Kojo ft. Busiswa Gqulu

Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year

• ‘Ataa Adwoa’ – Bosom PYung
• ‘Adom’ – Diana Hamilton
• ‘No Dulling’ – Keche ft. Kuami Eugene
• ‘Enjoyment’ – KiDi
• ‘Sisa’ – King Promise
• ‘Ekorso’ – Kofi Jamar
• ‘Open Gate’ – Kuami Eugene
• ‘La Hustle Remix’ – Medikal
• ‘Happy Day’ – Sarkodie
• ‘Sore’ – Yaw Tog
• ‘Say Cheese’ – KiDi
• ‘Inna Song’ – Darkovibes

Album of the Year

• Araba – Adina
• Kpanlogo – Darkovibes
• Son of Africa – Kuami Eugene
• The Truth – Medikal
• Inveencible – MzVee
• 10 AM – Strongman
• Blackstar – KelvynBoy
• Lava Feels – Joey B

EP of the Year

• Blue – KiDi
• Seed – Gyakie
• Different – GuiltyBeatz
• Mood Swings – Edem
• This Is Not The Tape, Sorry For The Wait II – Kwesi Arthur
• The Truth – Kofi Jamar

Best New Artist of the Year

• Amerado
• Bosom PYung
• Dead Peepol
• Gyakie
• Kofi Jamar
• Kweku Flick
• Larruso
• Mr Drew
• Yaw TOG
• Camidoh

Artist of the Year

• Adina
• KiDi
• Diana Hamilton
• Kuami Eugene
• Medikal
• Sarkodie

Instrumentalist of the Year

• Joshua Moszi
• Nana Yaw Sarfo Prince
• Sennah Emmanuel
• Bludo Enoch
• Owuraku Kissi

Songwriter of the Year

• Diana Hamilton – ‘Adom’
• Kofi Kinaata – ‘Behind the Scenes’
• Adina – ‘Hyedin’
• Joe Mettle – ‘Yesu Mo’
• Abiana – ‘Adun Lei’
• Epixode – ‘Too Much’

Record of the Year

• ‘Be Your Own Beautiful’ – Adomaa
• ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’ – Adina
• ‘Fancy’ – Amaarae
• ‘Die 4 U’ – Cina Soul
• ‘Too Much’ – Epixode
• ‘Diplomatic Teef’ – Trigmatic
• ‘Commot’ – Worlasi
• ‘Mmusuo’ – YaaYaa

Male Vocalist of the Year

• KiDi – ‘One Man’ ft. Adina
• Joe Mettle – ‘Yesu Mo’
• Akwaboah – ‘Posti Me’
• MOG Music – ‘Oguamma’
• Kyei Mensah – ‘Take It All’
• Kingsley Amporful – ‘God’

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Abiana – 'Adun Lei'
• Adina – ‘Hear Me’
• Yaa Yaa – ‘Mmusuo’
• Cina Soul – ‘Die 4 U
• Efe Grace – ‘Lord Have Your Way’
• Enuonyam – ‘Fill Me’

Best Video of the Year

• ‘Why’ – Adina
• ‘Fancy’ – Amaarae
• ‘Adom’ – Diana Hamilton.
• ‘Cold’ – Joey B
• ‘Open Gate’ – Kuami Eugene
• ‘On the Street’ – Kweku Smoke
• ‘Let Me Know’ – Mr Drew
• ‘Baddest Boss’ – MzVee
• ‘Kpa’ – Okyeame Kwame
• ‘Thomas Pompoyeyaw Rmx’ – Pappy Kojo ft. Busiswa Gqulu

Best Group of the Year

• Bethel Revival Choir
• DopeNation
• Dead Peepol
• Keche

African Artist of the Year

• Burna Boy
• Davido
• Wizkid
• Master KG
• Fireboy DML
• Omah Lay

Traditional Artist of the Year

• Mewnhyia Tetwe Nwom Kro

Music for Good Award

• Yaa Yaa

Sound Engineer of the Year

• Richie Mensah

Producer of the Year

• Richie Mensah

Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Green Award

• Kofi Kinaata

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Bob Pinodo