Ghana Music Awards Jinx - Real Or Imagined

If anyone has noticed it, the one has not been bold enough to say it loudly but there is a trend in the Ghana Music Awards that is a brow raiser.

Every winner of the prestigious 'Song of the Year' award somehow never wins that award for a second time and, perhaps even more curious, the winner's career takes a dive soon after taking the award. Some of them sink into oblivion.

In 2000, Daddy Lumba won the award with 'Aben Wo Ha'. Since then has he come out with about four albums including 'Odo Poison', 'Mema Afa Wotrim' and 'Ahenfo Kyeniye' but all these have failed to match up to 'Aben Wo Ha'.

One or two songs on these albums have enjoyed good airplay but all too soon they vanish. Lumba's current album, for example seems to have melted into nothinglessas soon as it was released. A song on it 'Wobeda Ge' has been struggling to climb the Mega Hits charts since the alter part of last year.

The Musicman, Kojo Antwi swept four awards including the 'Song of the Year' award with 'Tom & Jerry' in 2001. Although his album, 'Densu' won Album of the Year and 'Amirika', a track on it won him the Song Writer of the Year at 2003 GMA, that has been it. In 2003, the relatively new Kontihene beat him to the Song of the Year award.

His yearly musical festival held every Christmas Eve is characterised with songs from his current album. Last year's show was devoid of new songs. Patrons were treated to same old songs. Very 'unKojo Antwi'.

After capturing our hearts with 'Yesom Sika' and wrestling four of the awards including the Song of the Year with 'Medo' in 2002, Lord Kenya literally came to a stop. The Rap Heavyweight Champ's subsequent albums failed to tick setting off rumours that he had become a spent force. His latest song, 'Born Again' released late last year is however enjoying some patronage and is yet to enter charts.

In 2003, Kontihene won the Song of the Year with 'Aketesia'. He also took home the New Artiste award. And just like his predecessor, Lord Kenya, his subsequent albums failed to fly.

The VIP boys seem to have suffered the same fate. After winning the Song of the Year award with 'Ahomka Womu' and even going on to win a KORA Award, VIP's latest 'Pussy Cat' is not exactly a hit and therefore not receiving the expected airplay.

Last year, Obour won the prestigious Song of the Year ward with 'Konkontibaa' and we are yet to see what happens to him.

In 2000, Pastor Joe Beecham was adjudged New Artiste of the Year. The same award went to Deeba the following year and Obour took it in 2003. Kontihene, Tinny and Batman received the award in 2003, 2004, and 2005 respectively.

With the exception of Obour who 'grew' up to win the Song of the Year last year and Kontihene who won it the same year he received the Song of the Year, little can be said of the others.

Tinny and Batman are still in the limelight and still the toast of music lovers but Pastor Joe Beecham and Deeba seem to have been eluded by the spotlight.

And for the six years running, no gospel song has ever won the Song of the Year award. Perhaps next Saturday will tell.