Northern Music Awards At Picorna

The second edition of the Northern Music Awards has been held in Tamale with a call on musicians in the north to be creative and help use music to market the potentials of the area.

This year's awards held last Saturday was well patronized as the event attracted a good number of residents in the metropolis who danced their hearts out till the following morning at the Picorna Gardens.

Artistes like K.K.C, a hiplifer and Memunatu Laadi, a highlife artiste treated the audience to captivating and exhilarating tunes.

In all, 46 musicians including production firms and radio presenters were honoured at the event organized by Odeneho Promotions. They all received certificates and trophies.

Abada received 'Hiplife Songs of the Year' while the hiplife trio who, took up FGS grabbed the 'Hiplife Album of the Year Award'. Aatone and Abad received the 'Best Collaboration of the Year Award' while 'Reggae Song of the Year' went to Abu Saddiq a.k.a. Policeman.

Sherrif Ghale was adjudged the 'Reggae Artiste of the Year' and Yakubu Salifu from Tamale and Guy One from Bolgatanga took home the 'Traditional Song of the Year'. Mama Rams received the 'Most Popular Song of the Year' with her song 'Biyomima' which translates 'don't deceive me' and 'Album of the Year Awards' while Ahmed Adam received the 'Highlife Artiste of the Year Award'.

Zaacus received 'songwriter of the Year' and Umar Jander took the 'Best Male Vocalist of the Year Award'. Nana Ayisha grabbed the Best Female Vocalist of the Year Award with 'Music Distributor of the Year Award' going to I.K. Music Production.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Mohammed Amin Adam, commended musicians in the North for their contributions to the development of the music industry but urged them to work harder to help market the numerous potentials of the region.

He said the US Embassy would soon set up a fund to organize annual musical festivals as a way of exposing the works of musicians in the region to the outside world. He therefore pledged the preparedness of the Regional coordinator Council to support artistes. In the region to enable them compete effectively on the international music scene.

The chief Executive Officer of Odeneho promotions, Mr. Ernest Kofie, stressed the need for public-oriented organizations and individuals to support young, talented musicians in the region to boost the industry on the international scene.

"I therefore appeal to you musicians to be innovative and creative to enable you market yourselves effectively at the international market level and make the North proud", he stated.

The Event manager of Odeneho Promotions, Mr. Adam Abdul Basit, called on producers and other stakeholders to make the awards successful by sponsoring the artistes to come out with good works.