The TGMA stage
For many fans of Ghanaian music, the Ghana Music Awards serve as the ultimate moment to celebrate and appreciate artistes and other music-related creatives for their efforts throughout the year.
For those who prefer to watch from the comfort of their own homes, tuning into the awards show on TV is the way to go.
You get to see close-up views of your favourite stars, their dazzling and sometimes ridiculous outfits on the red carpet, and their reactions to what's happening on stage.
However, as the years pass, one starts to notice a few things about the awards scheme. It all starts to feel the same.
As someone who watches the show on TV, it's the same routine, from the red carpet sessions hosted by the lucky media house presenters who are the media partners, to the numerous ads that fill the time, to the close-up shots of audience members, it's all very familiar.
But, hey, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. What could be improved, however, is the timing.
The red carpet was scheduled to begin at 7 pm and the show at 8 pm, but the show started at 11 pm and went on until 4 am.
Prior to the start, rumours of issues could be heard; one of the night's most anticipated performances had to be cancelled due to production problems.
Amaarae, in a post on X, announced that she had to pull out of her performance due to 'unforeseen logistical challenges', mentioning difficulties in coordinating her appearance at the event amidst her ongoing international tour commitments.
Despite the late start and technical issues with King Promise's opening performance, the show went on, and the first few awards were quickly presented.
Kuami Eugene helped to lift the mood after King Promise's performance.
Stonebwoy won the first award in a category shared with King Promise, Efya showcased why she is a queen, Amakye Dede impressed the audience, but what stood out the most was the camera focusing on the faces of Stonebwoy or King Promise when they received an award.
After the intense and exhausting 8-hour show, Stonebwoy was crowned Artiste of the Year.
For those in attendance, it was time to head home. For the TV audience, it was time to turn off their sets and go to bed.
Overall, the ceremony itself wasn't bad. There were amazing performances from the remaining artists, great stage design, good camera work, and excellent lighting.
However, as usual, poor scheduling and bad timing left a mark on the people's favourite event.
It's kind of like an annoying stain on your favourite church clothes.
Maybe, with time, this will be fixed. Maybe.
Feature by Isaac Dadzie
