A night of glamour, glamour, and enough contentious discussions to fill a month's worth of radio call-ins, the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) have long been the gem in the crown of Ghana's music business.
Fans enthusiastically support their favourite artists each year, but no category elicits greater zeal—or rage—than Artiste of the Year (AOTY). It's a cultural battlefield more than just an award.
Ghana becomes divided when the nominees are announced. Artists, commentators, and ardent supporters passionately defend their favourite people on everything from morning programs to meme sites. Barbershop disputes, workplace surveys, dissertations based on voice notes from WhatsApp, and TikTok challenges are all fuelling the flames.
What about this year? It's electric, I see.
Class of 2025: An Outstanding Lineup
Stonebwoy, King Promise, King Paluta, Joe Mettle, Black Sherif, Team Eternity Ghana, and Kweku Smoke are among the prominent and diverse group of candidates for this year's 26th edition of TGMA AOTY. It's a diverse blend of Afrobeats, Street Rap, Gospel, and alternative flair, each of which is worthy on its own.
But let's face it: Stonebwoy, King Promise, and King Paluta make the most noise around a seductive three. And this time, it's about history, hunger, and earned respect rather than simply who has had the most hits.
King Paluta: The Regional Victor
Despite being the underdog at the beginning of the year, King Paluta emerged as a formidable force between Makoma and Aseda. Known as the "Local Champion," he produced cultural events in addition to songs.
Makoma became a national hymn and an unofficial campaign song. Even more intriguing was Aseda, who moved from pulpits to beer bars with ease. Yes, you read correctly. Ghana was simultaneously dancing and praying during Paluta.
Nor was he only dropping blows. He released a good record, made several appearances in the business, and played on almost all of Ghana's main stages. He raised the banner for Oseikrom (Kumasi), demonstrating the artistic prowess of the Ashanti capital.
This is where the argument starts, however. Critics claim that he is not as well-known abroad and that his streaming figures fall short of those of his competitors. Even while he has the street down pat, others believe he still has space to improve as an artist, particularly in terms of stagecraft and adaptability.
Nevertheless, Paluta offered Ghana one of its most genuine musical years, and sometimes the people's voice is more important than statistics.
King Promise: The Trendy Candidate with International Style
King Promise is the sound of the skyline—polished, universal, and very smooth—if King Paluta is the voice of the street. This year, his musical journey has been nothing short of a motion picture.
With Paris and European, two hits that radiate a certain cool—like sunglasses at night—King Promise continued to turn heads in the year under review, riding the wave from his 2023 European blockbuster Terminator. Across the continent, these songs are now commonplace on Afrobeats playlists, rooftop parties, and fashion shows.
The figures? Beautiful. King Promise's digital footprint is indisputable, and his streaming numbers are among the top in the category. His performances across Asia, Europe, and even sections of Africa demonstrated demand in addition to reach. He has established himself as a mainstay on global stages and is even quietly making his way into Nigeria, the ultimate destination for West African crossover.
What makes his narrative so interesting, however, is that if he wins, he would complete what fans are now referring to as the "K Circle," a close-knit group of previous champions that includes his peers KiDi and Kuami Eugene. The feeling behind that? strong. King Promise seems to have "suffered enough"—repeatedly kind, but never rewarded.
Additionally, the audience sometimes just wants to see the good person prevail. In addition to being excellent, he has travelled "continentally" and isn't stopping in Paris.
Stonebwoy: The Future Greatest?
The heavyweight Stonebwoy follows. The kingmaker. The hitman with the best-tuned weapons in the industry.
Many people thought he would do a modest victory lap after winning in 2024. Stonebwoy instead went into overdrive. The features on his album Up&Runnin9 read like a who's who of international music aristocracy, making it a masterwork in cross-genre fluidity. From chart-topping hits to Grammy-nominated collaborators, he did more than simply represent Ghana—he exported it.
He continued after that. Stonebwoy performed on some of the largest venues in the world, including the O2 Arena in London, which was a huge set. He released Jejereje domestically, a song that cemented his dual reputation as popular and street-relevant in addition to dominating the radio.
This performer is an expert in the music industry. With a victory this year, Stonebwoy would become the first person to win Artiste of the Year three times in a row and the first one to do it consecutively. Dynasty talk, that is. Furthermore, his consistency, reach, and range are unparalleled, despite some arguing that his momentum isn't as fresh as Promise's or as street-heavy as Paluta's. In reality, his rivals may really be his admirers.
In many respects, Stonebwoy is battling for legacy more than fame.
Spoiler Alert: When Underdogs Bark
The dark horses are about to upset your forecasts, just when you believe there are only three contenders left.
Joe Mettle, Ghana’s gospel darling, has a loyal base and a reputation for pulling off shockers. His consistency in delivering hits with spiritual resonance keep him quietly in the race. Could the church stage a coup?
Kweku Smoke brings gritty energy and an unapologetically raw style that resonates with younger audiences. His appeal may be niche, but it’s deep.
And then there’s Black Sherif—a darling of both fans and critics. While he hasn’t dominated the conversation this year like in the past, he still commands respect and attention. One strong push from voters could catapult him into surprise territory.
And here’s the kicker: a recent Ghana Music Live poll revealed that many fans support more than one nominee. In a year where the top three could split the vote, the door is wide open for an upset.
A Year of Firsts, or a Full Circle Moment?
So, who truly deserves it?
Is it Paluta, who turned local love into national dominance? Is it Promise, whose global growth and loyal following scream “it’s his time”? Or is it Stonebwoy, the man with the numbers, the narrative, and the unmatched artistry?
The truth? There’s no wrong answer this year. Every nominee brings something meaningful to the table—whether it’s street cred, sonic innovation, Gospel inspiration, or global reach.
But only one crown. Only one name.
And on the night of the 26TGMAs, when the spotlight hits, and the envelope opens, history will be made—one way or another.
Until then, the debates rage on. Twitter is talking. The fans are voting. And the streets? Oh, the streets are watching.
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