Entertainment
Afrobeats gets a place on America Music Awards
The American Music Awards (AMAs) has introduced a category dedicated to recognising Afrobeats.
The new category is called ‘Favourite Afrobeats Artist’.
It is the first award in a major US award show dedicated to recognising African artistes that have transcended the African borders with the now globally recognised genre.
Fans of Afrobeats artistes can vote for their favourite stars who have been nominated. Unfortunately, for the category’s debut, no Ghanaian act was nominated.
The nominees for the 2022 AMA ‘Favourite Afrobeats Artist’ are; Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML, Tems, and Wizkid.
Tems has another nomination in the ‘Collaboration of the Year’ category for her collab on Wait For U with Future and Drake.
Meanwhile, Afrobeats is not the only music genre to have a spot in the AMAs.
The K-Pop genre also landed a category. The category is named ‘Favourite K-Pop Artist’. Fans of K-Pop also now have the chance to vote for their favourite artiste or group.
The K-Pop artists nominated are Blackpink, BTS, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together and Twice.
BTS is also nominated in the ‘Favourite Pop Duo or Group category.’
This comes weeks after calls for The Recording Academy, organisers of Grammy, to add Afribeats as a category to the awards scheme.
In September, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Recording Academy said there is a possibility the event will in the near future have a category for Afrobeats.
Speaking to the media on his arrival in Ghana, Harvey Mason Jr, noted that The Recording Academy recently had a meeting with leaders of the Afrobeats community including producers, songwriters, executives and others to learn more about the genre – and will continue to do so.
“We just talked about what are the different sub-genres (of Afrobeats), the needs, the desires, and my goal is to represent all genres of music including Afrobeats at the Grammys, but it has to be done properly,” Mr Mason said.
Meanwhile, in March 2022, Billboard created the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart – a standard record chart ranking the 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the United States weekly.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
Entertainment
Oncemore Six to headline Symphonic Gospel Meets Orchestra 2024
Symphonic Music Ghana is set for the 4th edition of the Symphonic Gospel Meets Orchestra concert, scheduled for December 22 at The Palms Convention Centre in Accra.
This year’s event will feature renowned South African gospel artiste Oncemore Six as the main performer.
The singer is known for his powerful worship songs like “Here on our knees” and “Ohlonishwayo”.
‘Oncemore Six’ has inspired audiences across Africa with his heartfelt music.
Joining him on stage will be a lineup of talented gospel musicians, including Grace Charles, Shadrach Kwesi Mensah, Efe Grace, Charnté Eseyin, Lordina The Soprano, Kofi Owusu Peprah, Luigi Maclean, Enuonyam, and more. This diverse group of artistes promises to deliver a memorable evening of worship and praise.
The concert aims to blend contemporary gospel music with classical orchestral elements, creating a unique and uplifting experience for all attendees. As a live recording event, it offers the audience an opportunity to be part of a significant moment in Ghana’s gospel music scene.
The tickets are still available for purchase.
You can’t miss this opportunity to experience a night of powerful worship and musical excellence. Mark your calendars for tomorrow and join at The Palms Convention Center for an unforgettable evening.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Entertainment
2024 Eastern Music Awards: Daasebreba Kwame crowned Artiste of the Year
Rising music sensation Daasebreba Kwame has been crowned Artiste of the Year at the 2024 Eastern Music Awards held at the Koforidua Cultural Centre.
The Eastern Music Awards, currently in its fifth year, promotes and recognises remarkable artistes thriving in the region and throughout Ghana in a variety of categories.
The night featured thrilling performances by nominees and past winners, highlighting the Eastern Region’s rich musical tradition.
Daasebreba Kwame, who is signed to the Yaco International record label, has had a successful year, winning the prestigious Artiste of the Year award, as well as Highlife Song of the Year at this year’s Eastern Music Awards.
Daasebreba Kwame’s Artiste of the Year prize package included a performance at the 2025 African Music Week in Canada.
In his acceptance speech, Daasebreba Kwame expressed gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support and dedicated this award to all aspiring musicians in Ghana.
He emphasised the importance of staying true to one’s musical roots while embracing innovation in music, and this was received by massive applause from attendees at the auditorium.
This accolade is a significant milestone in the career of Daasebreba Kwame, who is known for his unique blend of traditional Ghanaian sounds with contemporary music styles, which has captivated audiences both locally and internationally.
Winning this award not only highlights Daasebreba Kwame’s individual talent but also underscores the growing recognition of Eastern Region artistes within Ghana’s broader music industry.
Daasebreba Kwame’s victory at the Eastern Music Awards marks a significant achievement not just for him but for all artistes striving for excellence in their craft.
As he continues to inspire others through his music and dedication to cultural heritage, it is clear that he will remain a prominent figure in Ghana’s evolving music landscape.
This year’s event saw an increase in nominations across various genres, reflecting a diverse range of musical expressions emerging from the region.
