Black Sherif, Sarkodie, Okyeame Kwame and EL
Since its inception in 1999, the ‘Artiste of the Year’ title at the Ghana Music Awards has been the most coveted accolade.
This category stands at the peak of the award scheme, and the bragging right it carries are immense.
Discussions and debates about who should win have been overwhelming each time the award season comes around for the past 25 years.
This year (2025), the nominees include Joe Mettle, King Paluta, King Promise, Stonebwoy, Black Sherif, Kweku Smoke, and Team Eternity.
Fans are already debating fiercely on social media about who deserves to win the ‘Artiste of the Year,’ with each fanbase passionately defending their favourite.
However, the focus of this article will be on solo rap artistes who have claimed the prestigious ‘Artiste of the Year’ title at the Ghana Music Awards since the 2000s.
Lord Kenya (2002)
Lord Kenya won four awards at the Ghana Music Awards, including ‘Artist of the Year.’
He arguably opened the floodgates for other rappers to also receive the award in subsequent years.
Kontihene (2003)
In 2003, his song ‘Aketesea’ from his debut album ‘Nyankonton’ won ‘Popular Song of the Year’ and ‘New Artist of the Year’ in 2003.
Kontihene was also awarded the overall ‘Artist of the Year.’
Obour (2005)
Obour, whose real name is Brice Osei Kuffour, made an impact at the Ghana Music Awards in 2005 by taking home five awards.
With his album ‘Atumpan,’ he won ‘Hiplife Album of the Year’.
He also won the coveted ‘Artiste of the Year’ title and was awarded the ‘Hiplife Artiste of the Year.’
Kwaw Kese (2008)
In 2008, he won five awards, including the ‘Hiplife Song of the Year,’ ‘Hiplife Artist of the Year,’ ‘Hiplife Album of the Year,’ and the overall ‘Artiste of the Year.’
Okyeame Kwame (2009)
In 2000, Okyeame Kwame and his group, Akyeame, won the ‘Group of the Year’ and ‘Hiplife Song of the Year’ awards.
However, after the group split, Okyeame Kwame returned as a solo artiste and claimed the prestigious ‘Artiste of the Year’ award in 2009.
Sarkodie (2010 & 2012)
In 2010, his album ‘Makye’ won multiple awards, including the ‘Artiste of the Year’ at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).
In 2012, Sarkodie claimed the coveted award once again and has since been nominated consecutively for the past decade, with the exception of the 2025 edition, where he has not nominated in the category.
EL (2016)
In 2016, Ghanaian rapper, singer, and music producer Elorm Adablah, popularly known as E.L, was crowned ‘Artiste of the Year’ at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).
E.L beat stiff competition from some of the industry’s biggest names, including Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Bisa Kdei, VVIP, and gospel singer SP Kofi Sarpong.
His dominance that year was largely due to exceptional work, which included hit songs like ‘Koko,’ ‘Mi Naa Bo Po,’ ‘Shelele,’ and ‘Too Much.’
Black Sherif (2023)
Rapper Black Sherif won ‘Artiste of the Year’ at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in 2023.
He beat seven fierce competitors: Piesie Esther, Sarkodie, Joe Mettle, Stonebwoy, Camidoh, Kidi, and King Promise.
This was the first ‘Artiste of the Year’ award for the ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ hitmaker since his big break in 2021.
AK/EB
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The man of the moment!#RNAQ40 pic.twitter.com/bb7dgOY7hh
— Dziedzorm💚 (@SSDziedzorm) March 22, 2025
