Keeny Ice
Keeny Ice, a Ghanaian hiplife/hip-hop musician, has been adjudged the artiste of the year at the just-ended HelloAdipa Volta Music Awards (HVMAs) 2019, held in Ho, the Volta regional capital.
Keeny, born Barnabas Amu, beat competition from six other nominees in that category, including the 2018 artiste of the year, Agbeshie, to pick the ultimate award.
The rapper, who raps in English and Adzagbe (a language spoken in Aflao, Togo and Benin), took home three awards, making him the artiste with the highest number of awards on the night.
He also took home with a cash prize of GH¢1,000 from the headline sponsor, HelloAdipa, GH¢100 Jelili shopping voucher and $100 from the Ho West Member of Parliament (MP), Emmanuel Korsi Bedzrah.
Apart from the artiste of the year, Keeny Ice took the best rapper award, as well as the best collaboration award with his song ‘Ebe God’, which featured Nigerian artiste Victor AD.
Keeny’s award announcement was met with a thunderous applause from the audience who had filled the Ho Technical University auditorium to capacity.
According to the The Mo’she Music signee, “The award means a lot to me because they have actually picked me as the eye of the region and in as much as I am happy, I still feel like it has given me a lot of work.”
Mawuli Younggod and KD Bakes, who were also in contention for the artiste of the year category, took home two awards each. While KD Bakes walked away with the best male vocalist and best music video of the year awards, Mawuli Younggod won the discovery of the year and hip-hop song of the year.
Kush Elikem took the best reggae dancehall artiste for the second time running, while Remy J had the highlife song of the year award.
Qwame Gabby, Fiamor and Chris Phoebes were awarded the gospel song of the year, songwriter of the year and hiplife song of the year awards respectively.
Agbeshie swept the most popular song with his hit single ‘Wrowrohu’, which featured Medikal.
Veteran radio personality Kwame Senyo, Ayigbe Edem and Stonebowy were decorated with honorary awards for their contribution to the development of music in the region and Ghana.
The MCs were playwright Korku Lumor and Belinda Bredzei of Kuul FM.
The HelloAdipa VMA is an initiative by Eventic GH to recognise and reward artistes for their meritorious contributions to the music industry in the region.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)