The excitement is palpable, the anticipation is electric, and the playlist is already in your head. The 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) nominations have officially arrived, and Ghana’s music scene is buzzing louder than a HiLife guitar riff in a packed studio. With 26 award categories, 92 total nominations, and 80 different artistes vying for glory, this year’s TGMA promises drama, dominance, and a few surprises that might make fans spill their drinks or their tea.
A Numbers Game
Let us start with the cold, hard numbers because, in awards season, they speak louder than fan chants. Across the 26 categories, an impressive 80 artistes and musical acts are in contention. That is nearly one nomination per artiste, with an average of 1.15 nominations each. The story is in the details because the top tier of artistes are dominating the scene while the rest are battling in a tightly packed undercard.
Four artistes, Kojo Blak, Black Sherif, Medikal, and Stonebwoy, each collected a staggering 8 nominations, collectively controlling about 35 percent of all nods. If TGMA nominations were a football match, these four would be your star strikers, midfield maestros, and goalkeepers all in one.
The Heavyweights
Let us break down the titans of this awards cycle.
Kojo Blak, the breakout sensation, is nominated in categories including Best Hiplife Song, Best Afrobeats Song, Best Music Video, Collaboration of the Year, Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste, Most Popular Song, and Best New Artiste. Kojo Blak is not just a rising star; he is a constellation lighting up every corner of the TGMA sky.
Black Sherif, the rap prodigy with a knack for storytelling, is equally formidable with nods in Best HipHop Song, Best Afropop Song, Best Music Video, HipLife/HipHop Artiste, Songwriter of the Year, Album/EP of the Year, Artiste of the Year, and International Collaboration. If this were a chessboard, Black Sherif would be simultaneously executing checkmate in multiple directions.
Medikal, with his signature flow and chart-busting hits, also racks up 8 nominations in categories such as Best Hiplife Song, Best Music Video, Best Rap Performance, HipLife/HipHop Artiste, Album/EP of the Year, Artiste of the Year, Most Popular Song, and Collaboration of the Year. Meanwhile, Stonebwoy shows why he remains the Reggae/Dancehall colossus with 8 nods covering Best Afropop Song, Best Music Video, Reggae/Dancehall Artiste, Songwriter of the Year, Album/EP of the Year, Artiste of the Year, Best Reggae/Dancehall Song, and Collaboration of the Year.
Second and Third Tiers: Veteran Grit Meets Emerging Power
Right behind the top four, Sarkodie maintains his legendary status with 6 nominations, reminding the industry that over a decade in the game has not dulled his edge. Then there is Wendy Shay and Moliy, each with 5 nominations, representing the powerful Afrobeats surge that keeps the charts and our TikTok feeds thumping.
Tier four to six includes artistes like Kojo Cue, Lasmid, Samini, Kweku Smoke, Kwabena Kwabena, KiDi, King Paluta, Piesie Esther, Diana Hamilton, Gyakie, Kuami Eugene, O’Kenneth, and OliveTheBoy. The TGMA is not just about the top names. It is a showcase of depth, talent, and the next wave of musical innovation.
Songs on Fire
Of course, artistes are only part of the story. The songs themselves are the lifeblood of the awards. Leading the pack are Kojo Blak’s “Excellent” featuring Kelvyn Boy and Black Sherif’s “Sacrifice”, each racking up 4 nominations. The competition is fierce. “Shoulder” by Medikal featuring Shatta Wale and Beeztrap, “Violence” by Sarkodie featuring Kweku Smoke, “Gymnastic” by KiDi featuring OliveTheBoy and Kojo Blak, “Chaana” by Samini featuring the Soweto Mass Choir, and “Akoma” by Asiama all snag 3 nominations each. This diversity illustrates that TGMA is not just a celebration of artistes. It is a celebration of the hits that have defined Ghanaian music over the past year.
Genre Dynamics
TGMA’s genre spread reads like a musical map of Ghana.
- HipHop/Hiplife dominates with roughly 35 percent of nominations, led by Sarkodie, Medikal, and Black Sherif.
- Afrobeats/Afropop follows closely at 33 percent, with Kojo Blak, Wendy Shay, KiDi, and Lasmid as flagbearers.
- Highlife maintains a dignified 12 percent, represented by Kofi Kinaata, King Paluta, and Kwabena Kwabena.
- Reggae/Dancehall claims 10 percent, firmly under Stonebwoy and Samini’s stewardship.
- Gospel rounds off the list with 10 percent, showcasing spiritual giants like Diana Hamilton and Piesie Esther.
Combined, HipHop and Afrobeats account for a jaw-dropping 68 percent of total nominations. This is an unmistakable nod to youth-driven, commercially potent music trends.
Industry Insights
Beyond the stats, the 27th TGMA nominations tell a compelling story of evolution and influence.
- New-Generation Surge: Kojo Blak’s dominance signals the rise of a new star class. His versatility across Afrobeats, Hiplife, and collaborations positions him as a cultural phenomenon in the making.
- Sustained Veteran Influence: Sarkodie proves that staying relevant for over a decade is about innovation and adaptability.
- Genre Leadership: Stonebwoy continues to anchor Reggae/Dancehall, blending traditional grooves with global sensibilities.
- Commercial Pop Impact: Wendy Shay’s continued chart success underscores Afrobeats’ commercial potency and the female-led push in mainstream Ghanaian music.
Who Will Take Artiste of the Year?
The perennial question is who will lift the coveted Artiste of the Year trophy. Historical trends and nomination stats point squarely to the top-tier trio: Black Sherif, Stonebwoy, and Medikal. Their multiple nominations across key categories give them a statistical edge.
Tier two contenders, Wendy Shay and Sarkodie, remain competitive but may need a public swing vote or a viral hit to tilt the scales. Tier three, represented by Diana Hamilton, faces long odds. In TGMA history, surprises often happen in the form of genre-defying projects or standout performances.
Looking Ahead
With 26 award categories spanning song, artiste, and technical recognitions, the 27th TGMA is shaping up as one of the most hotly contested ceremonies in recent memory. Whether it is Kojo Blak’s meteoric rise, Black Sherif’s lyrical prowess, Medikal’s rap dominance, or Stonebwoy’s reggae mastery, the awards promise not only to honor Ghanaian music but also to chart the future of its global influence.
In the end, the nominations tell a story that goes beyond numbers. They reflect a dynamic music ecosystem where veterans and newcomers coexist, genres cross-pollinate, and the hits resonate far beyond the airwaves. Fans, industry insiders, and artistes themselves are counting down to the main event, and one thing is clear. The 27th TGMA is not just about trophies. It is about shaping the soundscape of Ghana and beyond.
Dust off your best dance moves, queue up your favorite playlist, and prepare for the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards. If these nominations are anything to go by, the night will be as electrifying as a Medikal verse, as soulful as a Kojo Blak chorus, and as unstoppable as Stonebwoy’s dancehall rhythm.
In Ghanaian music, the numbers tell a story, but the beats write the legacy.
Written by Richmond Adu-Poku
