Ghanaian music star Black Sherif reaffirmed his dominance in the country’s music scene after emerging as the biggest winner at the 27th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The “Iron Boy” hitmaker capped off a remarkable night by clinching the coveted Artiste of the Year award, his second after first winning the title in 2023—cementing his status as one of the most influential artistes of his generation.
Black Sherif’s impact on the night extended far beyond the headline award. His critically acclaimed album Iron Boy earned him Album of the Year, while his lyrical prowess secured him Songwriter of the Year.
He also picked up Afropop Song of the Year for “Sacrifice” and Hip-Hop Song of the Year for “Where Dem Boys,” rounding off an exceptional performance that firmly placed him at the centre of the awards.
Strong Showings from Industry Stars
Rapper Medikal delivered an impressive showing, winning Hiplife Song of the Year for “Shoulder,” Best Collaboration of the Year alongside Shatta Wale, and Best Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year.
Highlife sensation Kofi Kinaata continued his consistent run, securing both Highlife Song of the Year with “It Is Finished” and Highlife Artiste of the Year.
In the reggae and dancehall category, Stonebwoy retained his Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year title, while gospel star Diana Hamilton was crowned Gospel Artiste of the Year.
One of the night’s most poignant moments came with the posthumous honouring of legendary highlife icon Daddy Lumba, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his immense contribution to Ghana’s music industry.
The ceremony also spotlighted a wide array of talents across genres, reflecting the diversity and evolution of Ghanaian music.
Among other notable winners, Wendy Shay was named Best AfroBeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, while Kojo Blak emerged as Best New Artiste.
International recognition was also evident, with Davido and Omah Lay winning Best African Song for “With You.”
Full List of Key Winners
- Artiste of the Year – Black Sherif
- Album of the Year – Black Sherif (Iron Boy)
- Songwriter of the Year – Black Sherif
- Hiplife Song of the Year – Medikal (Shoulder)
- Best Collaboration – Medikal ft. Shatta Wale (Shoulder)
- Highlife Song of the Year – Kofi Kinaata (It Is Finished)
- Highlife Artiste of the Year – Kofi Kinaata
- Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year – Stonebwoy
- Gospel Artiste of the Year – Diana Hamilton
- Best New Artiste – Kojo Blak
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Daddy Lumba
With a commanding performance and multiple wins, Black Sherif’s triumph at the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards underscores his growing influence and signals a defining era in his career.