Shatta Wale crowned “Artiste of the Year” at Ghana Music Awards UK (GMA-UK) 2023 – WINNERS LIST

The scheme celebrates the influence of Ghanaian music in the UK, and this year’s edition honoured works released between April 2022 and March 2023, across more than 30 categories. Shatta Wale bested fellow stars Black Sherif, Piesie Esther, Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, and King Promise to annex the Artist of the Year prize, previously held by Black Sherif.

Aside from the coveted trophy, Shatta Wale, fuelled by hit record ‘On God’, clinched the awards for Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year, Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year and Song of the Year. His fanbase, Shatta Movement, was also recognised as the Most Dominant Fanbase of the Year.

Below is the full list of winners:

Hiplife/Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• Black Sherif
• Sarkodie
• Medikal
• Amerado
• DJ Azonto
• Lasmid

Hiplife/Hip Hop Song of the Year

• ‘Friday Night’ – Lasmid
• ‘Scarface’ – Medikal
• ‘Grace’ – Amerado ft. Lasmid
• ‘Ewiase’ – Kweku Flick
• ‘Country Side’ – Sarkodie ft. Black Sherif
• ‘Soja’ – Black Sherif
• ‘Fa No Fom’ – DJ Azonto
• ‘Benzo’ – Malcom Nuna
• ‘Kwacha’ – YPee ft. Yaw TOG
• ‘Pressure’ – Kimilist
• ‘Obaa Hemaa’ – Skyface SDW ft. O’Kenneth, Reggie, Beeztrap KOTM, Kwaku DMC & Jay Bahd

Highlife Song of the Year

• ‘Atia (High-life Rendition)’ – Epixode ft. Kwabena Kwabena
• ‘Adidede’ – Adina
• ‘Adom’ – Kwesi Arthur
• ‘Have Mercy’ – Kofi Knit
• ‘Champagne’ – KiDi
• ‘My Darling’ – Akwaboah ft. Kwabena Kwabena
• ‘Outside (Abonten)’ – DJ Breezy ft. Kwesi Arthur, Mugeez, Stonebwoy, Black Sherif & Smallgod
• ‘Afraid to Lose You’ – Kwabena Kwabena
• ‘Ofon Na Ɛdi Asɛm Fo’ – Daddy Lumba
• ‘Settle’ – Gambo ft. Keche

Highlife Artist of the Year

• Adina
• Kofi Kinaata
• KiDi
• Akwaboah
• Kwabena Kwabena

Gospel Song of the Year

• ‘Wayε Me Yie’ – Piesie Esther
• ‘My Meditations’ – Diana Hamilton
• ‘Final Say (Medley)’ – Celestine Donkor
• ‘Mala’ – MOGmusic
• ‘This Far’ – Ewura Abena

Gospel Artist of the Year

• Piesie Esther
• Diana Hamilton
• Celestine Donkor
• MOGmusic

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year

• Ras Kuuku
• Epixode
• Rocky Dawuni
• Stonebwoy
• Shatta Wale
• Samini

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

• ‘3 3 & 1 (Miensa Miensa Ne Baako)’ – Ras Kuuku
• ‘Atia’ – Epixode
• ‘Don’t Forget Me’ – Black Sherif
• ‘Never Bow Down’ – Rocky Dawuni ft. Blvk H3ro
• ‘On God’ – Shatta Wale
• ‘Abundance’ – Samini
• ‘Eyes On You’ ft. Stonebwoy – Maccasio

Afrobeats Artist of theYear

• Camidoh
• King Promise
• Gyakie
• Wendy Shay

Afrobeats Song of the Year

• ‘Kaba’ – Camidoh
• ‘Something’ – Gyakie
• ‘Balance It’ – D Jay
• ‘Ginger’ – King Promise
• ‘Jo’ – FBS ft. Mr Drew
• ‘Therapy’ – Stonebwoy
• ‘Carry Go’ – Sista Afia

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Camidoh
• Stonebwoy
• King Promise
• Akwaboah
• Kwabena Kwabena 

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Piesie Esther
• Cina Soul 
• Abiana
• Adomaa
• Ewura Abena
• Ruth Adjei

Instrumentalist of the Year

• Dominic Quarshie
• Prince Sennah
• Emmanuel Bludo
• Dan Grahl
• Prince Hakim
• Ahwenepa

Songwriter of the Year

• Piesie Esther – ‘Wayε Me Yie’
• Akwaboah – ‘Darling’
• Black Sherif – ‘Oh Paradise’
• Fameye – ‘Thank You’
• Diana Hamilton – ‘My Meditations’
• Ewura Abena – ‘This Far’
• Epixode – ‘Atia (High-life Rendition)’

Best Group of the Year

• FRA!
• Bethel Revival Choir
• DopeNation
• Keche

Best Rapper of the Year

• Medikal – ‘Scarface’
• Strongman – ‘Goated’
• Sarkodie – ‘Country Side’ ft. Black Sherif
• Amerado – ‘Obiaa Boa’
• Eno Barony – ‘The Finish Line’ ft. Amerado
• Lyrical Joe – ‘Hmmhm’

Best Collaboration of the Year

• FBS – ‘Jo’ ft. Mr Drew
• Sarkodie – ‘Country Side’ ft. Black Sherif
• Epixode – ‘Atia (High-life Rendition)’ ft. Kwabena Kwabena
• Amerado – ‘Grace’ ft. Lasmid
• Frank Naro – ‘Koom’ ft. Fameye
• Sarkodie – ‘Labadi’ ft. King Promise
• DJ Breezy – ‘Outside (Abonten)’ ft. Kwesi Arthur, Mugeez, Stonebwoy, Black Sherif & Smallgod
• DJ Vyrusky – ‘Body Body’ ft. KiDi & Camidoh
• FRA! – ‘You Dey Feel The Vibe’ ft. Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta (Thousand)

New Artist of the Year

• Lasmid
• D Jay
• DJ Azonto
• Skyface SDW
• Gambo

Most Popular Song of the Year

• ‘Country Side’ – Sarkodie ft. Black Sherif
• ‘Friday Night’ – Lasmid
• ‘Wayε Me Yie’ – Piesie Esther
• ‘Fa No Fom’ – DJ Azonto
• ‘Atia (High-life Rendition)’ – Epixode ft. Kwabena Kwabena
• ‘Soja’ – Black Sherif
• ‘Ofon Na Ɛdi Asɛm Fo’ – Daddy Lumba
• ‘On God’ – Shatta Wale

Artist of the Year

• Black Sherif
• Piesie Esther
• Stonebwoy
• Sarkodie
• King Promise
• Shatta Wale

Uncovered Artist of the Year

• Essi
• Maya Blu
• Cojo Rae
• Tripcy
• Theo Vesachi
• Niashun
• Shuga Lord
• Vanilla
• Mista Myles

Producer of the Year

• MOGBeatz
• Killbeatz
• Nacee
• Kaywa
• Gomez Beatz
• Samsney Beats
• Shadrach Yawson
• Da Maker
• Beatz Vampire
• Abochi

Best Music Video of the Year

• Sarkodie – ‘Labadi’ ft. King Promise
• Piesie Esther – ‘Wayε Me Yie’
• Black Sherif – ‘Konogo Zongo’
• Scott Evans – ‘Best Side’
• Kwabena Kwabena – ‘Afraid To Lose You’
• Stonebwoy – ‘Therapy’
• D-Black – ‘Dindin’ ft. Efya
• Sista Afia – ‘Carry Go’
• FBS – ‘Jo’ ft. Mr Drew
• Sefa – ‘Enjoyment’

Most Dominant Fanbase of the Year

• 69 Fans
• Gadam Nation
• Team DH
• Daddy Lumba Fans
• Shatta Movement
• BHIM Nation
• Meditants
• Team Move
• Sarknation
• Shay Gang

UK-Based Best DJ

• DJ Ozberga
• DJ Invisible
• DJ P Montana
• DJ FiiFii
• DJ Master P
• DJ Paak

UK-Based New Artist of the Year

• JBEE
• FeelGudAlways
• Francisca Amoah
• NGB Muni
• Internal B
• Martha Brako
• Mayqueen

UK-Based Uncovered Artist of the Year

• Kwayku
• De.ViZION
• Yaw Bossman
• Kevin Omarr
• Malisca Cardna
• Drogo

UK-Based Songwriter of the Year

• De.ViZION – Cry Out Psalm 34:17
• Black Kat Gh – So Much Love
• Ohene – Say I Do

UK-Based Afrobeats/Afropop Artist of the Year

• GoldKay
• Ras King Bobo 1
• Denny
• Charles Kalah
• Kin Frenzee

UK-Based Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year

• Come For Your Chocolate – Charles Kalah
• Glow – Denny ft. Yaa Pono
• Free Your Mind – Ras King Bobo 1
• Boss Chick – Kin Frenzee
• My Girl (Remix) – GoldKay ft. David Jay

UK-Based Highlife Song of the Year

• ‘So Much Love’ – Black Kat Gh ft. Kwabena Kwabena
• ‘Hand of God’ – Ohene
• ‘Cocoa’ – Kwadwo Obeng Barima(K.O.B)
• ‘Twe Da’ – Marco Lowrey
• ‘Waka Waka’ – Kay Bryn
• ‘Shidaa Remix’ – K. O. G ft. Captain Planet

UK-Based Highlife Artist of the Year

• Ohene
• Kwadwo Obeng Barima (K.O.B)
• Marco Lowrey

UK-Based Artist of the Year

• Goldkay
• Denny
• Charles Kalah
• Minister Kofi Nyarko

UK-Based Live Performance Band of the Year

• Ozimzim
• The Compozers
• Davison Band
• Minor Seventh
• Onipa

UK-Based Gospel Song of the Year

• ‘Bless Me’ – MayQueen ft. Igwe
• ‘Agyenkwa Hene’ – Samuel Sey ft. Efe Grace
• ‘Give Me Rest’ – Yvonne Asamoah-Tawiah
• ‘Omo God’ – Alice Mckenzie ft. Morris D’Voice
• ‘Nyame Ahyira Wo’ – Nana Amankwah Tiah (Ekaade) ft. Lady Ann
• ‘Mo (Well Done)’ – Alex Acheampong ft. Morris Babyface
• ‘N’Adom’ – Min. Kofi Nyarko ft. Minister OJ
• ‘Blessed’ – Joseph Matthew

UK-Based Gospel Artist of the Year

• Samuel Sey
• Yvonne Asamoah-Tawiah
• Alice McKenzie
• Nana Amankwah Tiah (Ekaade)
• Min. Kofi Nyarko
• Alex Acheampong

UK-Based Collaboration of the Year

• Goldkay – ‘My Girl Remix’ ft. David Jay
• Francisca Amoah – ‘Mogya Edi Bem’ ft. S.K. Frimpong
• Star Vicy – ‘Kabutey’ ft. Welzy
• Geo Wellington – ‘New Day Yeye’ ft. Zims
• Samuel Sey – ‘Agyenkwa Hene’ ft Efe Grace
• Marco Lowrey – ‘Twe Da Remix’ ft. Medikal & Kurl Songx
• Alice McKenzie – ‘Omo God’ ft Morris D’Voice
• Min. Kofi Nyarko – ‘N’adom’ ft Min O.J.
• Nana Amankwah Tiah (Ekaade) – ‘Nyame Ahyira Wo’ ft Lady Ann
• Black Kat Gh – ‘So Much Love’ ft. Kwabena Kwabena

UK-Based Producer of the Year

• Ephraim Beatz
• Charles Kalah
• Adeshie Studios
• Da BeatMasta
• FeelGudAlways

Ghanaian Contemporary Act of theYear

• Wiyaala
• Atongo Zimba
• King Ayisoba
• K.O.G (Kweku Of Ghana)
• Santrofi
• FRA!
• Kakatsitsi
• Kyekyeku

Best Touring Band

• Gyedu-Blay & The Ambolley Sekondi Band
• Santrofi 
• FRA!
• K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade
• Dela Botri & The Hewale Sounds
• Super Opong Stars
• First Class Band
• Amamere Folk Music ‘n’ Dance Ensemble
• Afrodat Troupe
• Adesa Taloi

(Source: Music in Africa)