Charterhouse, the organisers of the annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), has released the first batch of nominees for this year’s awards ceremony.

This year’s awards, which happens to be the 24th edition, would celebrate the hard work of musicians as well as other stakeholders in the music industry.

After reviewing the works of artistes from January 1st, 2022, to December 31st, 2022, the VGMA research team, board, and secretariat have concluded on the nomination list.

The first batch of nominations, which include the Best Hip Hop Song, Best Gospel Music, Best Highlife Song, and Best Hiplife Songs, have been announced.

Black Sherif’s “Kwaku the Traveller” is in contention for the Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, as are Sarkodie’s “Country Side,” Amerado’s “Obiaa Boa,” Kwesi Arthur’s “Drama,” Malcolm Nuna’s “Benzo,” and Medikal’s “Scarface”.

This year’s Unsung Artistes of the Year have also been announced, with some budding musical artistes including Nii Ashun, Aya Ramzyb, DSL, Maya Blu, Boi Jake, and Tsa Qa all vying for the category.

Arguably, the biggest music awards night, this year’s VGMA is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the Grand Arena International Conference Centre.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Artiste of the Year

Black Sherif

Stonebwoy

Sarkodie

King Promise

Camidoh

KiDi

Piesie Esther

Joe Mettle

Most Popular Song of the Year

Camidoh - Sugarcane remix

Sarkodie - Country Side

Black Sherif - Kweku The Traveller

Lamid - Friday Night

Kelvyn Boy - Downflat

Gyakie - Something

Wendy Shay - Survivor

KiDi - Blessed

Stonebwoy - Therapy

Piesie Esther - Waye Me Yie

Best New Artiste

Lamid

DJay

Malcolm Nuna

Jay Bhad

Ewura Abena

DJ Azonto

Chief One

Album of the Year

Black Sherif - The Villian I Never Was

Sarkodie - Jamz

Gyakie - My Diary

King Promise - 5 Star

Kwesi Arthur - Son Of Jacob

Joe Mettle - The Kadosh

Record of the Year

King Promise - Yaa Asantewaa ft Frenna

Adomaa - Begining Again

Perez Musik - Hewale Lala

Stonebwoy - Therapy

Sarkodie - Country Side ft Black Sherif

Gyakie - Far Away

Best African Artiste

Ayra Star

Burna Boy

Asake

Kizz Daniel

Libianca

The Therapist

International Collaboration of the Year

Camidoh - Sugarcan remix ft King Promise, Mayorkun & Darkoo

KiDi - Touch It remix ft Tyga

King Promise - Ten Toes ft Omah Lay

KiDi - Blessed ft Movado

Mzvee - Dumebi ft Yemi Alade

King Promise - Run To You ft Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa

Sarkodie - Better Days ft BNXN


Collaboration of the Year

FBS - Jo ft Mr Drew

Sarkodie - Country Side ft Black Sherif

Epixode - Atia ft Kwabena Kwabena

Amerado - Grace ft Lasmid

DJ Breezy - Abonten ft Mugeez, Black Sherif, and Kwesi Arthur

Bethel Revival Choir - Tegbe Tegbe ft Edwin Dadson

Sarkodie - Labadi ft King Promise

DJ Vyrusky - Body 2 Body ft KiDi and Camidoh


Songwriter of the Year

Piesie Esther - Waye Me Yie

Black Sherif - Oh Paradise

Perez Musik - Hewale Lala

Fameye - Thank You

Diana Hamilton - My Meditation

Ewura Abena - This Far

Best Highlife Artiste

Kofi Kinaata

Akwaboah

Kuami Eugene

Abiana

Best Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste

Black Sherif

Sarkodie

Kwesi Arthur

Medikal

Amerado

Strongman

Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste

Camidoh

King Promise

Gyakie

KiDi

Wendy Shay

Kelvyn Boy


Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste

Ras Kuuku

Epixode

Rocky Dawuni

Stonebwoy

Samini

Best Rap Performance

Medikal - Scarface

Strongman - Goated

Amerado - Obiaa Boa

Lyrical Joe - 5th August 6

Teephlow - 6 Feet


Best Gospel Artiste

Piesie Esther

Joe Mettle

Perez Musik

Diana Hamilton

Celestine Donkor

MOG Music

Best Female Vocal Performance

Piesie Esther - Waye Me Yie

Niella - Nothing Is Too Hard

Enuonyam - God of Wonders

Cina Soul - Waiting

Abiana - Sika

Adomaa - Begining Again


Best Male Vocal Performance

Camidoh - Waiting

Kyei Mensah - Nothing Is Too Hard

Perez Musik - Hewale Lala

Stinebwoy - Therapy

King Promise - Run To You


Best Music Video

Black Sherif - Konongo Zongo

Stonebwoy - Therapy

Piesie Esther - Waye Me Yie

Stonebwoy - Gidigba

Sarkodie - Labadi ft King Promise

KiDi - Touch It remix ft Tyga

Scott Evans - Best Side

Kwabena Kwabena - Afriad To Use You


Producer of the Year

MOG Beatz

A Town

Phantom

Shadrack Yawson

Guilty Beatz

Kill Beatz

Liquid Beatz

Samnsey


Audio Engineer of the Year

Chopz - Yaa Asantewaa

Qube - Beginig Again

Perez Musik - Hewale Lala

Supa Dups - Therapy

Possigee - Country Side

Altra Nova - Far Away

Best Reggae/Dancehall Song

Konkara Jayvybz - I Go Dey ft Kelvyn Boy

Ras Kuuku - 3 3 & 1

Epixode - Atia

Black Sherif - Don't Forget Me

Rocky Dawuni - Neva Bow Low ft Blvk H3ro

Maccasio - Eyes On You ft Stonebwoy


Best Afropop Song

Stonebwoy - Therapy

Wendy Shay - Survivor

Black Sherif - Oil In My Head

Dope Nation - Gboza

King Promise - Ten Toes ft Omah Lay

Kuami Eugene - Take Away

KiDi - Blessed ft Movado

Fameye - Thank You


Best Afrobeats Song

Camidoh - Sugarcan remix ft King Promise, Mayorkun & Darkoo

Gyakie - Something

KiDi - Champagne

Djay - Balance It

King Promise - Ginger

FBS - Jo ft Mr Drew


Best Hip Hop Song

Black Sherif - Kweku The Traveller

Amerado - Obia Boa

Sarkodie - Country Side ft Black Sherif

Malcolm Nuna - Benzo

Kwesi Arthur - Drama

Medikal - Scarface


Best Gospel Song

Celestine Donkor - Fianl Say

Piesie Esther - Waye Me Yie

Diana Hamilton - My Meditation

Joe Mettle - Kadosh

Perez Musik - Hewale Lala

Bethel Revival Choir - Tegbe Tegbe ft Edwin Dadson

Ewura Abena - This Far

MOG Music - Mala


Best Highlife Song

Epixode - Atia ft Kwabena Kwabena

AK Songstress - My Proposal

Adina - Adi Dede

Kwesi Arthur - Adom

Kelvyn Boy - Down Flat

Kofi Kinaata - Have Mercy

Best Hiplife Song

Lamid - Friday Night

Medikal - Stubborn Academy

Jay Bhad - Anadwo

DJ Breezy - Abonten ft Mugeez, Black Sherif, and Kwesi Arthur

Amerado - Grace ft Lasmid

Kweku Flick - Ewiase


Unsung Artistes of the Year

Ni Ashun

Aya Ramzyb

DSL

TsaQa

Maya Blu

Boi Jake