2018 VGMA: Ebony makes history, wins ‘Artiste of the Year’

Late dancehall artiste, Ebony has made history by winning the ‘Artiste of the Year’ at the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

She beat Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and 2017 Artiste of the Year winner, Joe Mettle to be adjudged the best artiste in Ghana.

Ebony is the first female to win the award and the first to win the award posthumously.

Before the awards, critics and industry persons had tipped her as the favourite to win the award.

Some females in the Ghanaian entertainment industry, during their appearance on the Red Carpet of the awards, had declared their support for the late singer to win the ‘Artiste of the Year’ award.

Actress Selly Galley, singer Adina, Big Brother Africa star, Mimi and others, all said the late Ebony worked very hard last year and therefore deserves to win.

Ebony was killed in a gory accident on the Sunyani-Kumasi highway after visiting her mother on February 8.

Her childhood friend and assistant, Franky Kuri, and their bodyguard also did not survive the crash. She was laid to rest on March 24 at the Osu Cemetary.

In 2017, she thrilled Ghanaians with back to back hit songs including, ‘Sponsor’, ‘Hustle’ and ‘Maame Hw3’

At the awards, which recognises artistes and producers who have excelled during the year under review of the awards – January 1 to December 31, 2017, Ebony also picked up two other awards.

She won ‘Afro Pop Song of the Year’ with ‘Sponsor’ and her album, ‘Bonyfied’ was adjudged ‘Album of the Year’.

The late singer’s manager, Bullet, who wrote almost all the songs on the ‘Bonyfied’ album, received the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award for ‘Maame Hw3’.

Bullet, receiving the ‘Artiste of the Year’ award, on behalf of Ebony in his acceptance speech said, “To God be the glory…this award, it’s not a sympathy award, she deserves it. Ebony lives on forever.”

Nana Poku Kwarteng, the late singer’s father, who joined Bullet to receive the award, also said, “How do I say [this], even though sad, I’m okay now. Prestigious they say, anyway, Ebony and her management did so well. She actually deserves this and like I said earlier, hard work pays.”

Mr Kwarteng was at the awards with late Ebony’s mother, Madam Beatrice Oppong.

Joe Mettle, who made history last year by being the first gospel artiste to win the Artiste of the Year award, walked home with three awards.

He won ‘Gospel Song of the Year’ with ‘Bo Noo Ni’, ‘Gospel Artiste of the Year’ and ‘Best Male Vocalist of the Year’.

Rapper Sarkodie won ‘Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste of the Year’ and ‘Rapper of the Year’. The pride of the North, Fancy Gadam’s ‘Total Cheat’, which features rapper Sarkodie, was adjudged ‘Hiplife Song of the Year’ and ‘Song of the Year’.

Talented singer Kuami Eugene won ‘Highlife Artiste of the Year’ and ‘Best New Artiste of the Year’ awards.

This year’s awards witnessed a special tribute performance from veteran musician Akosua Adjepong, MzVee, Efya and Adin to Ebony.

There were also impressive performances from Joe Mettle, Sarkodie, Kuami Eugene, Kidi, Samini, Stonebwoy, Nasty C from South Africa, Tiwa Savage from Nigeria and a comeback performance by Praye.

Source: Myjoyonline