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IRAWMA 2025: Shatta Wale Wins 3 Major Awards Including Best Music Video

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Shatta Wale lifted the flag of Ghana high at the 2025 International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA), where he won three (3) major awards on the night.

Held at the Coral Springs Centre for the Arts on Sunday, March 30, 2025, Shatta Wale won the award for Best Music Video with his single Killa Ji Mi.

He also won the award for Best Crossover Song with Commando, featuring Bounty Killer.

To crown it all, the Already hitmaker also won the Best African Dancehall Entertainer.

Other winners on the night included Shenseaa, Vybz Kartel and many others.

 

Below is the list of winners for the 2025 International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

Emperor of Reggae & World Music—Hon. Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year

BUJU BANTON

Peter Tosh Award for Recording Artist of the Year

VYBZ KARTEL

Jacob Miller Award for Best Male Vocalist

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN

Best Female Vocalist

ALAINE

Best Song

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” – BUSY SIGNAL

Best Album/CD

“BOB MARLEY – ONE LOVE” – VARIOUS ARTISTS, MUSIC INSPIRED BY THE FILM

Best Crossover Song

“COMMANDO” – SHATTA WALE, FEATURING BOUNTY KILLER

Hall of Justice Award for Best Gospel Entertainer

“FOREVER GRATEFUL” – RICHIE STEPHENS, FEATURING SANCHEZ

Best EP (Extended Play) Recording

“NEVER GIVE UP” – AGENT SASCO & ROMAIN VIRGO

Best Male DJ/Rapper

BUJU BANTON

Best Female DJ/Rapper

SHENSEEA

Best New Entertainer (Shared)

NIGY BOY

YG MARLEY

Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer

PATRICE ROBERTS

Best Dancehall Stagecraft Entertainer

BEENIE MAN

Best Singjay Entertainer

JAH VINCI

Best African Dancehall Entertainer

SHATTA WALE

Best Afrobeat Entertainer

DIAMOND PLATNUMZ

Best African Entertainer

BURNA BOY

Best R & B/Hip Hop Collab. Reggae Song

“REMIX HOLD YOU” – GYPTIAN FEATURING MINAJ

Best Reggae Rock Entertainer

COLLIE BUDDZ

Best Reggaeton Entertainer

BAD BUNNY

Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer

MARCIA JACKSON

Best Youth Entertainer (Under 19 years old)

QING MADI

Best Music Video

“KILLA JI MI” – SHATTA WALE

Bunny Wailer Award for Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer

CAPLETON

Dennis Brown Award for Most Promising Entertainer

BLVK H3RO

Best Instrumentalist

DEAN FRASER

Best Sound System/DJ

SOUL SUPREME

Most Outstanding Dance Group

IMMORTALS

Best Caribbean Entertainer

BEENIE MAN

Jean B. P. DuSable Award for Best Haitian Entertainer

KODAK BLACK

Record Producer of the Year

DJ CHROME

Comedian of the Year

JULIE MANGO – BEST IRAWMA Song 2025

Concert of the Year

“FREEDOM STREET” – VYBZ KARTEL & PRODUCER DSE (JOSEF BOGDONOVICH), also competing against “REGGAE SUMFEST”

Best Song/Act Saluting VP Kamala Harris (Special)

“JAMERICAN MOMALA’S STORY” – RAS DEAN JAH

Most Active Reggae/Dancehall Social Media Entertainer (Shared)

SEAN PAUL

SHEENSEEA

Best Entertainment Media (TV/Podcast/Video) Influencer

STLEEK MEDIA

Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award

BOUNTY KILLER

Florida Entertainer of the Year (local reggae/world music)

SHUGA

Florida Best Party DJs 2024 (Shared)

DJ TUBBIS AKA DJ RUFUS (Caribbean)

DJ JASON PANTON (Afrobeat)

Culture

“We Entertain Stupidity in This Country” — GHOne’s Lilly Mohammed Slams Foreign Affairs Minister Ablakwa Over IShowSpeed Passport Saga

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Broadcast journalist Lilly Mohammed has descended on Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over the decision to issue a Ghanaian passport to American streamer IShowSpeed.

 

Speaking on GH Today, GHOne TV’s morning show, the host expressed strong dissatisfaction with the minister’s action, questioning the justification for granting Ghanaian citizenship to the internet personality after a brief visit to the country.

 

“Let’s get serious as a country. It’s like we’re not serious at all. Somebody comes to Ghana, he’s a streamer, he’s putting Ghana on the global map, he’s doing whatever. He comes for a day or two, and then you shove a Ghanaian passport into his hands. You’re not serious,” she said.

 

Lilly Mohammed stated that she could not see the importance of IShowSpeed’s visit that warranted the issuance of a Ghanaian passport.

 

“You’re not serious. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, you were somebody we had high expectations of. You shoved a Ghanaian passport into the hands of somebody who came here streaming and embarking on his own personal thing. Coming to step on our jollof, jumping on the Black Stars Square, what has that done to our GDP? What has it added to our economy?” she questioned.

 

The media personality further compared the situation to Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, who has consistently promoted Africa on the global stage, asking whether any country had rewarded him with citizenship for his efforts.

 

“Wode Maya has been putting Ghana on the map globally. Have you seen America give him an American passport? Even Nigeria, has Nigeria given him a Nigerian passport? You entertain stupidity so much. You’ve given him a Ghanaian passport for what achievement? What has he done for Ghana?” she asked.

 

She also criticised the public reaction surrounding the visit, particularly an incident where some Ghanaians reportedly ate jollof rice that IShowSpeed had stepped on during his visit.

“You give him a Ghanaian passport because he sat on our jollof, and the moment he steps away, Ghanaians rush to eat it. You are not serious. With the greatest respect, let’s put some value on our passport. Let’s put value on this country,” she stressed.

Lilly Mohammed further lamented the difficulties faced by Ghanaian citizens in acquiring passports, contrasting it with the ease with which the streamer was allegedly granted one.

 

“Meanwhile, Ghanaians are queuing for passports. Ghanaian citizens born in this country, who by the Constitution are entitled to citizenship, are struggling. You say you have opened the passport system to eliminate goro boys, yet people are still finding it difficult to get a basic passport,” she said.

 

While clarifying that she had no personal issue with the streamer, she maintained that the decision to issue him a Ghanaian passport was unjustified.

 

“I have no problem with him. I didn’t even know him until he came to Ghana. It’s a beautiful thing what he’s doing, and it’s risky. For a young man, he’s very bold and deserves a pat on the back. However, to give him a Ghanaian passport, what has he done to deserve it? Let’s get serious in this country, for real,” she concluded.

 

Background

 

On Tuesday, January 27, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the Ministry had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to popular American streamer and internet personality IShowSpeed. According to the minister, the decision followed confirmation of what he described as the influencer’s “irrefutable ties” to Ghana.

IShowSpeed, an American streamer currently on an African tour highlighting the continent’s culture and lifestyle, arrived in Ghana on Sunday. He was officially welcomed on Monday, January 26, with a traditional Akan naming ceremony held in the Eastern Region.

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Ghana Music Awards Europe Appoints Mona Gucci as Chief Operations Officer

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Ghana Music Awards Europe has officially announced the appointment of Abigail Monalisa Semaha, widely known as Mona Gucci, as its new Chief Operations Officer.

The announcement, made in Accra and Europe, marks a significant milestone in the organization’s efforts to strengthen its operational leadership as it expands its footprint across Europe and the global Ghanaian music community.

According to the organizers, the appointment reflects Ghana Music Awards Europe’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and forward-thinking leadership. Mona Gucci brings with her extensive experience in media, branding, communications, and creative industry management. She is widely respected for her deep understanding of entertainment culture, audience engagement, and strategic leadership.

In her new role, Mona Gucci will oversee the day-to-day operations of Ghana Music Awards Europe, lead strategic planning, manage partnerships, and supervise the execution of key initiatives aimed at elevating the awards scheme’s brand. Her leadership is expected to improve organizational efficiency, strengthen industry relationships, and enhance the overall experience for artists, stakeholders, and audiences.

Speaking on the appointment, organizers of Ghana Music Awards Europe expressed strong confidence in her ability to drive growth and innovation within the organization. They noted that her professionalism, experience, and insight into the entertainment landscape make her a valuable addition to the executive team.

Mona Gucci also expressed her excitement about the new role, stating that she looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the celebration and global promotion of Ghanaian music and culture.

Ghana Music Awards Europe remains dedicated to recognizing and honoring Ghanaian musical excellence while creating platforms that connect artists to international audiences. The annual awards scheme was established to celebrate and promote Ghanaian music and creatives in Europe and beyond, fostering cultural exchange and global recognition for Ghana’s vibrant music industry.

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High Court Confirms No Will on Record for Late Highlife Icon Daddy Lumba

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The High Court in Accra has confirmed that there is no record of a last will belonging to the late highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, widely known as Daddy Lumba, at the Probate and Administration Division’s registry.

This confirmation followed an official search conducted as part of the legal process surrounding the administration of the musician’s estate.

According to court documents, the registry search was initiated to determine whether Daddy Lumba had deposited a will with the High Court. The request also sought details such as the date of deposit, the individual who submitted the document, and the lawyer who prepared it, should such a will exist.

However, a formal response from the registry, dated January 19, 2026, at 2:37 pm, stated that no will associated with the late musician is on record. The document, signed and stamped by the Registrar of the Probate and Administration Division, confirmed that the court’s registry holds no such record.

The absence of a registered will indicates that Daddy Lumba’s estate may be administered under Ghana’s intestate succession laws, unless a valid will is produced from another source. This development introduces additional legal considerations for the family and legal representatives managing his affairs.

Daddy Lumba, one of Ghana’s most influential and celebrated highlife musicians, left behind an extensive musical catalogue that continues to shape the country’s music industry. Since his passing, public attention has remained focused on the handling of his estate, reflecting both his stature and the enduring impact of his legacy.

 

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