Rapper EL picked up five awards at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards show including the coveted Artiste of the Year award.
He beat out his all male competition which had Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Bisa Kdei, SP Kofi Sarpong and VVIP also in contention to win the marquee award.
EL was rewarded for his exceptional craft and work on hit songs like ‘Mi Naa Bo Po’ and ‘Koko’.
Other notable winners included Bisa K’Dei who picked up four awards including the Album of the Year for ‘Breakthrough’ and Sarkodie who won the Record of the Year for ‘Bra’ along with two other awards.
Last year’s Artiste of the Year and Bhim Nation leader, Stonebwoy, paid tribute to his late mother as he picked up two awards including the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year.
Veteran musician and Highlife icon, AB Crenstil was also honored at the show with a Lifetime Achievement award and proceeded turn back the clock with a few performances including the iconic ‘Juliana’.
The ceremony was hosted by actors Chris Attoh and Naa Ashorkor with DJ Black holding things down on the turntables.
But the night ultimately belonged to EL, real name Elom Adablah, who cemented his place as one of Ghana’s biggest contemporary artistes.
Find below the list of nominees and winners.
Artiste of the Year
- Sarkodie
- Stonebwoy
- Bisa Kdei
- SP Kofi Sarpong
- VVIP
- E.L (Winner)
Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year
- VVIP – Skolom feat. Sena Dagadu
- Bisa Kdei – Mansa (Winner)
- Nicholas Omane Acheampong – Aporsor
- Stonebwoy – Go Higher
- Wisa – Ekikime feat. Luther
- E.L – Mi Naa Bo Po
- Atom – Ye Wo Krom
- Kofi Kinaata – Susuka
Highlife Artiste of the Year
- Bisa Kdei (Winner)
- Afriyie
- Ofori Amponsah
- Nero X
Afro-pop Song of The Year
- Fuse ODG – Only
- R2bees – Gboza feat. Davido
- Edem – Nyedzilo feat. Reekado Banks
- MzVee – Abofra feat. Efya
- Adina – Coastal Vibes feat. Trigmatic
- E.L – Mi Naa Bo Po (Winner)
Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year
- Stonebwoy (Winner)
- Jupitar
- MzVee
- AK Songstress
- Episode
- Blakk Rasta
Hip-life/Hip-hop Artiste of the Year
- Pappy Kojo
- Omar Sterling
- Sarkodie
- VVIP
- Guru
- E.L (Winner)
Best Collaboration of the Year
- VVIP – Skolom feat. Sena Dagadu (Winner)
- Sarkodie – Mewu feat. Akwaboah
- Pappy Kojo – Aye Late feat. Sarkodie
- Wisa – Ekikime feat. Luther
- Donzy – The Crusade feat. Kofi Kinaata
- Obrafour – Pimpinaa feat. Bisa Kdei
Record of the Year
- Adina – Coastal Vibes feat. Trigmatic
- MzVee – Abofra feat. Efya
- R2bees – Concert Party
- Sarkodie – Bra feat. Pat Thomas (Winner)
- Yaa Yaa – Dumb Drum
- Rocky Dawuni – Shine Light
- M.anifest – Forget Dem
Hip-life Song of The Year
- Donzy – The Crusade feat. Kofi Kinaata
- Atom – Ye Wo Krom (Winner)
- E.L – Koko
- Wisa – Ekiki Me feat. Luther
- VVIP – Skolom feat. Sena Dagadu
- Guru – Pooley Swag
Album of the Year
- MzVee – Verified
- E.L – E.L.O.M
- Sarkodie – Mary
- Bisa Kdei – Breakthrough (Winner)
- SP Kofi Sarpong – I Believe
Highlife Song of the Year
- Aka Blay – Take Away feat. Cabum
- Becca – Hwe
- Bisa Kdei – Mansa (Winner)
- Obrafour – Pimpinaa feat. Bisa Kdei
- R2bees – Makoma
- Kofi Kinaata – Susuka
- Ofori Amponsah – Alewa feat. Sarkodie
Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year
- Blakk Rasta – Serwaa Akoto
- De Voice – It’s So Crazy
- MzVee – Hold Me Now
- Stonebwoy – Go Higher (Winner)
- AK Songstress – Holiday
- Jupitar – Fire feat. Stonebwoy
Best Male Vocal Performance
- Afriyie – Go Gaga
- De Voice – It’s Crazy
- Knii Lante – Thinking Out Loud
- Pat Thomas – Bra (Winner)
- Mugeez – Concert Party (With Omar Sterling)
- Akwaboah Jnr. – Mewu (by Sarkodie)
Best Female Vocal Performance
- Adina – Boom Boom Beat
- Irene Logan – Me Do Wo
- MzVee – Hold Me Now (Winner)
- Nana Yaa – E Go Be
- Efya – SarkCess Story
- Yaa Yaa – Dumb Drum
Hip-Hop Song of the Year
- E.L – All Black feat. Joey B & Pappy Kojo
- Flowking Stone – Fire Bon Them
- Kwaw Kese – Yakubu
- Omar Sterling – Ninety Ninety
- Pappy Kojo – Ay3 Late feat. Sarkodie
- Sarkodie – Hand to Mouth (Winner)
Best Rapper of the Year
- E.L – King Without a Crown
- Flowking Stone – Fire Bon Dem
- Omar Sterling – Nineteen Ninety
- Pappy Kojo – Ay3 Late
- Sarkodie – Hand To Mouth (Winner)
Best Music Video of The Year
- E.L – Shelele (Winner)
- Obrafour – Nkontompo
- Yaa Yaa – Dumb Drum
- Edem – Girlfriend
- Teephlow – The Warning
- Preachers – Crazy For God
Best Group of The Year
- VVIP (Winner)
- R2bees
- Keche
- Galaxy
- Preachers
Producer of The Year
- Mo Beat – Skolom
- Bisa Kdei/Kaywa – Mansa
- Akwaboah Jnr. – Aporsor
- Beatz Dakay – Go Higher
- Chapter Beatz – Ekikime
- E.L – Mi Naa Bo Po (Winner)
- Dr. Ray – Ye Wo Krom
- Kin Dee – Susuka
Best New Artiste of the Year
- Nero X
- Teephlow
- Kofi Kinaata (Winner)
- Donzy
- Wisa
- Atom
Unsung Artiste
- Feli Nuna
- Perez
- 3. Adomaa (Winner)
- Ebony Reigns
- Nii Funny
Gospel Song of the Year
- SP Kofi Sarpong – Hour By Hour feat. Joyce Blessing
- Kofi Gyan – Yoboyo
- Mary Owusu – W’ow Nkwa Wo Wor Ade
- Obaapa Christy – Hyebre Sesafo
- Patience Nyarko – Wafom Kwan
- Nicholas Omane Acheapong (Winner)
Gospel Artiste of the Year
- Obaapa Christy
- Nicholas Omane Achemapong
- Joe Mettle
- SP Kofi Sarpong (Winner)
- Patience Nyarko
- Preachers
Songwriter of The Year
- Rex Omar – Paapa
- Knii Lante – Beautiful Virgo
- Kofi Kinaata – Susuka (Winner)
- MzVee, Richie & Efya – Abofra
- Obrafour – Nkontompo
- Stonebwoy – Go Higher
African Artiste of The Year
- Olamide
- Wizkid (Winner)
- Korede Bello
- Harrysong
- Patoranking
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana