What began as Ghana’s biggest music night ended as a show of dominance for Black Sherif, who emerged as the most decorated artiste at the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards 2026.
The “Iron Boy” hitmaker claimed the night’s biggest prize, Artiste of the Year, alongside a string of major wins including Album of the Year for Iron Boy, Songwriter of the Year, Afropop Song of the Year with Sacrifice, and Hip-Hop Song of the Year for Where Dem Boys.
His wins made him the standout performer of the night, capping a ceremony that featured strong competition from several of Ghana’s top artistes.
Born Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, Black Sherif first gained attention through raw, emotionally driven releases that circulated widely on digital platforms. His rise began attracting attention with songs like Cry for Me before exploding onto the African music scene with the viral success of First Sermon and Second Sermon.
However, it was the release of Kwaku The Traveller in 2022 that transformed him into a continental star, topping charts across several countries and earning global recognition.
His national and continental breakthrough arrived in 2022 with Kwaku The Traveller, a record that topped charts, went viral across Africa, and propelled him into mainstream recognition beyond Ghana’s borders.
Since then, he has maintained a consistent presence in Ghana’s top-tier music conversations, building a reputation for emotionally charged performances and cross-genre appeal.
This year’s Artiste of the Year category featured strong contenders including Sarkodie, Medikal, Wendy Shay, and Diana Hamilton, but Black Sherif ultimately dominated the night with a decisive win.
Elsewhere at the ceremony, Medikal secured Hiplife Song of the Year for Shoulder, Best Collaboration with Shatta Wale, and Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year.
Kofi Kinaata won Highlife Song of the Year and Highlife Artiste of the Year, while Stonebwoy retained his Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year title.
Gospel singer Diana Hamilton was named Gospel Artiste of the Year, as veteran highlife icon Daddy Lumba received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
With two Artiste of the Year awards to his name, Black Sherif is no longer just a rising star but has cemented his place among Ghana’s leading music artistes.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS — TGMA 2026
• Hiplife Song of the Year: Medikal – Shoulder
• Highlife Song of the Year: Kofi Kinaata – It is finished
• Best Male Vocal Performance: Asiama – Akoma
• Best Female Vocal Performance: Enam – Amin
• Hiphop Song of the Year: Black Sherif – Where Dem Boys
• Best Collaboration of the Year – Medikal/Shatta Wale – Shoulder
• Best International Collaboration – Moliy – Shake it to theMax
• Afropop Song of the Year – Black Sherif – Sacrifice
• Best Afrobeats Song – Kojo Blak ft Kelvyn Boy – Excellent
• Best Reggae/Dancehall Song: MOLIY, SHENSEEA, SKILLIBENG, SILENT ADDY – Shake it to the Max rms
• Best Urban/Contemporary Gospel Song: Kofi Owes Peprah – Big God Afro
• Best Music video : AratheJay Directed by David Duncan – Put am on God
• Gospel Artiste of the Year: Diana Hamilton – This is the doing of the Lord
• Best AfroBeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year – Wendy Shay
• Producer of the Year: Shoulder – A’town (Winner)
• Traditional Gospel Song: Piesie Esther – Nyame Ye
• Reggae Dancehall Artiste of the Year: StoneBwoy
• Best Hiphop Artiste of the Year: Medikal
• Best African song – Davido ft Omah Lay – With You
• Audio Engineer of the Year – Daniel Grüll – Enso Nyame Y3
• Song Writer of the Year : Black Sherif
• Best Rap Performance : Strongman – Mensei Da
• Lifetime Achievement Award : Daddy Lumba
• Group of the Year: Keche
• Highlife Artiste of the Year : Kofi Kinaata
• Best New Artiste – Kojo Blak
• Album of the Year – Black Sherif – Iron Boy
• Artiste of the Year – Black Sherif
