The Ugandan flag flew high when Eddy Kenzo was voted Global Male Act of the Year at the Global Music Awards Africa first annual ceremony, and Levixone’s Celebrate was voted Global Gospel Song of the Year.
On Saturday, Uganda’s flag flew high as Eddy Kenzo was voted the Global Male Act of the Year and Levixone picked up the Global Gospel Song of the Year Award at the 2021 Global Music Awards Africa.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Music Awards Africa was held as a virtual event in Ghana’s Accra on the 20th of March, 2021.
The awards platform was created by Ghana-based Smart Focus Media to recognize outstanding achievements by African artists while promoting African music globally.
In its first year, the awards platform has received worldwide recognition, as it honours the notable musical accomplishments of Africa’s musicians while promoting the continent as a global music destination.
To win the Global Male Act of the Year award, Eddy Kenzo beat Nigeria’s Bella Shmurda, Mr Leo of Cameroon, Kuami Eugene from Ghana, and Leczy of Nigeria.
In the competition for Global Gospel Song of the Year, Levixone beat Nigeria’s Joe Praize, Diana Hamilton from Ghana, Zimbabwean Minister Michael Mahendere, Ghanaian Empress Gifty Osei and Nigerian Prospa Ochimana.
Among the night’s biggest winners was Nigeria’s Bella Shmurda, as he won the Global Collaboration award and Global Most Popular Song award.
Master KG won Record of the Year, while Kuami Eugene’s Son Of Africa won Album of the Year. Grammy winner Burna Boy won the Global Artist of the Year award.
Likewise, a special recognition award will be presented to Bice Osei Kuffour, former president of the Musicians Union of Ghana, Hiplife veteran Reggie Rockstone, singer Nana Ama and broadcaster and musician Daniel Kofi Amoateng, all of whom contributed to African music.
All the winners and nominees at 2021 Global Music Awards Africa
Global Gospel Song of the Year
- ‘Celebrate’ – Levixone (Uganda) – WINNER
- ‘God Alone’ – Joe Praize (Nigeria)
- ‘W’asem’ – Diana Hamilton (Ghana)
- ‘Revival’ – Minister Michael Mahendere (Zimbabwe)
- ‘Jesus Over Do’ – Empress Gifty Osei (Ghana)
- ‘Worthy to be Praised’ – Prospa Ochimana (Nigeria)
Gospel Artist of the Year
- Levixone (Uganda)
- Diana Hamilton (Ghana)
- Joe Praize (Nigeria)
- Minister Michael Mahendere (Zimbabwe) – WINNER
- Empress Gifty Osei (Ghana)
- Prospa Ochimana (Nigeria)
Global Hip Hop Song of the Year
- ‘La Hustle’ – Medikal ft. Joey B and Cris Waddle (Ghana)
- ‘Madina’ – Teflon Flexx (Ghana)
- ‘Love from 233’ – Kwesi Arthur (Ghana)
- ‘Big Money’ – Star Zee (Sierra Leone) – WINNER
- ‘Camuflaje’ – D-Soulja (Equatorial Guinea)
Global Reggae/ Dancehall Song of the Year
- ‘Big Money’ – Star Zee (Sierra Leone)
- ‘Journey’ – Stonebwoy (Ghana) – WINNER
- ‘Dolla Bill’ – Heph B (Nigeria)
- ‘Shaming Enemies’ – Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)
- ‘Choppings’ – Shatta Wale (Ghana)
Global Reggae/ Dancehall Artist of the Year
- Shatta Wale (Ghana) – WINNER
- Star Zee (Sierra Leone)
- Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Stonebwoy (Ghana)
- Heph B (Nigeria)
Global Afrobeats Song of the Year
- ‘Vibe’ – Flo-Eazy (Ghana)
- ‘Best Friend’ – Kelvyn Boy (Ghana)
- ‘Agbemator’ – De Gate Zion (Ghana)
- ‘All Access’ – Terror- D ft. Emmerson (Sierra Leone)
- ‘Mama Prayer’ – Awoskey (Nigeria) – WINNER
Global Afrobeats Artist of the Year
- Flo-Eazy (Ghana)
- Kelvyn Boy (Ghana) – WINNER
- Terror-D (Sierra Leone)
- Awoskey (Nigeria)
Global Best Video of the Year
- ‘Here For You’ – Vanilla Karr (Equatorial Guinea)
- ‘Waa’ Santrinos – Raphael ft. Zeynab (Togo)
- ‘Tevunya’ – Sheeba Karungi (Uganda)
- ‘Big Money’ – Star Zee (Sierra Leone)
- ‘Without You’ – Awoskey (Nigeria)
- ‘Whatsapp’ – Nick Mba (Equatorial Guinea)
- ‘On God’ – D’Tee (Nigeria)
- ‘Camuflaje’ – D- Soulja (Equatorial Guinea)
- ‘Goddess’ – Tiisha (Goddess)
- ‘Wildin’ – Mmzy (Nigeria)
- ‘Favour’ – Nanky ft. Sarkodie (Ghana) – WINNER
- ‘Litty Lit’ – Cuppy ft. Teni (Nigeria)
Songwriter of the Year
- Mr Leo (Cameroon)
- Leczy (Nigeria)
- Master KG (South Africa)
- DobleJota NM (Senegal)
- Nedy (Tanzania) – WINNER
- Betty G (Ethiopia)
- Buju (Nigeria)
- Jerry Jeyco (Tanzania)
Producer of the Year
- Mr Jassiq (South Africa)
- KillBeatz (Ghana)
- Scarfboy (Nigeria)
- MOG Beatz (Ghana) – WINNER
- Dave Da Music Box (Ghana)
- Ivan Beatz (Ghana)
- Spon Key (Ghana)
- Vinny Kay (Ghana)
Record of the Year
- ‘All Access’ – Terror- D ft. Emmerson (Sierra Leone)
- ‘Idol’ – Leczy (Nigeria)
- ‘Duduke’ – Simi (Nigeria)
- ‘Ya Disponible’ – Obote Oberadaboo (Equatorial Guinea)
- ‘Jerusalema’ – Master KG (South Africa) – WINNER
- ‘Amen’ – Neny (Tanzania)
- ‘Amégan’ – Afia Mala (Togo)
Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artist of the Year
- Leczy (Nigeria)
- Nick Mba (Equatorial Guinea)
- Minks (Cameroon)
- King Gizee (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Nanky (Ghana)
Global Male Vocalist of the Year
- Phantom Steeze (South Africa)
- Leczy (Nigeria)
- Bella Shmurda (Nigeria)
- Fistong (Equatorial Guinea)
- KiDi (Ghana) – WINNER
- Paul Fortune (Kenya)
- Reynolds The Gentleman (Ghana)
- Chike (Nigeria)
- Famaso (Equatorial Guinea)
Global Female Vocalist of the Year
- Vanilla Karr (Equatorial Guinea)
- Sheebah Richer (Uganda)
- Simi (Nigeria)
- Efya (Ghana)
- Teni (Nigeria)
- Nana Ama (Ghana)
- Cuppy (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Betty G (Ethiopia)
- Midje La Mia (Equatorial Guinea)
Global Female Act of the Year
- Teni (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Cuppy (Nigeria)
- Betty G (Ethiopia)
- Afia Mala (Togo)
- Midje La Mia (Equatorial Guinea)
Global Male Act of the Year
- Eddy Kenzo (Uganda) – WINNER
- Bella Shmurda (Nigeria)
- Mr Leo (Cameroon)
- Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
- Leczy (Nigeria)
Global Best Group of the Year
- DopeNation (Ghana) – WINNER
- Sauti Sol (Kenya)
- Ethic Entertainment (Kenya)
- Masar Egbari (Egypt)
Global Rapper of the Year
- Yaa Pono (Ghana)
- Terror-D (Sierra Leone)
- Strongman (Ghana)
- Medikal (Ghana)
- Flowking Stone (Ghana) – WINNER
Global Collaboration of the Year
- ‘Chameleone’ – Slick Stuart ft. DJ Roga (Uganda)
- ‘Dwe’ – Mr Drew, Krymi, Sarkodie (Ghana)
- ‘Monica’ – Santrinos Raphael ft. Stonebwoy (Togo/Ghana)
- ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan and Lincoln (Nigeria) – WINNER
- ‘Tugende Mu Church’ – Lexvivone ft. Daddy Andre (Uganda)
- ‘Ulazi’ – Mr Jazziq ft. 9umba (South Africa)
Global Most Popular Song of the Year
- ‘Putuu’ – Stonebwoy (Ghana)
- ‘Jerusalema’ – Master KG (Southafrica)
- ‘Open Gate’ – Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
- ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan and Lincoln (Nigeria) – WINNER
- ‘Say Cheese’ – KiDi (Ghana)
Album of the Year
- Thug Diaries – Yaa Pono (Ghana)
- Son of Africa – Kuami Eugene (Ghana) – WINNER
- Twice As Tall – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Boo of the Booless – Chike (Nigeria)
- Unity – Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)
Global Artist of the Year
- Burna Boy (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Kuami Eugene (Ghana)
- Shatta Wale (Ghana)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Sarkodie (Ghana)
- Nasty C (South Africa)
- Master KG (South Africa)
- Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania)
- Nutty Neithan (Uganda)
- Stonebwoy (Ghana)
- Simi (Nigeria)
- Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)
Ghanaian Act of the Year (Male)
- Flo-Eazy
- Kiaani
- Nabil Forever
- Epixode – WINNER
- Zack GH
- Maccasio
Ghanaian Act of the Year (Female)
- Fantana
- Cocotrey
- Akiyana
- Jayana
- Tiisha
- Queen Haziel
- S3fa – WINNER
- Kanea
- Yaa Jackson
Most Influential Ghanaian Act of the Year
- Mr Drew – WINNER
- Amerado
- Black Sheriff
- Fameye
- Abena Serwaa Ophelia
- Kweku Flick
- Yaw Tog
Emerging Ghanaian Artist of the Year
- De Gate Zion
- Zeezy
- Tiatan
- Bruno Kay
- Klarah Kay
- Reggie
- Street Xervice
- Kay Stagger
- Lxrd Xoey
- Mighty – WINNER
Ghanaian Discovery Artist of the Year
- YT Soldier
- Bruno Kay
- King Prinz
- Freddy X
- Bekey Mills
- Donsam
- Kryspaddy – WINNER
- Chobo Waguan
- Greatnexx Music
Young Ghanaian Artist of the Year
- Righteous Vandyke
- Khojo Chavse – WINNER
- Chobo Waguan
- Pappy Kubi
- Kofi Wysi
- Eric Oppong
- CZ
- Wiz Papiz
- Plexzo
Best International Act
- Leflyyy (Ghana/ Switzerland)
- Beenie Man (Jamaica) – WINNER
- Spice (Jamaica)
- Gramps Morgan (Jamaica)
Special Recognition Awards
- Bice Osei Kuffour (Ghana)
- Reggie Rockstone (Ghana)
- Nana Ama (Ghana)
- Daniel Kofi Amoateng (Ghana)