Who needs a Ghana Music Award?

Mzbel without a doubt is the biggest female Hiplife artist in Ghana; and there is no denying that her success is largely due to her ability to push the envelope and stir up controversies. From her suggestive lyrics to her raunchy attire and stage acts, Mzbel certainly takes the biscuit for the most criticised musician in Ghana. But love her or hate her, she’s a tabloid delight. Watch E Dey Be by Mzbel feat. Castro.

One of her most recent headlines was when she publicly asked Charterhouse, the organizers of the Ghana Music Awards, to exclude her from nominations in the 2008 edition of the awards. According to her, she didn’t want to subject herself and her music to another round of public scrutiny and the possible alienation of some of her fans. She didn’t want to read in the newspapers, listen to radio or turn on the TV to find art critics discussing why she doesn’t deserve this or that award. Well, she was left out of the Ghana Music Awards only to be awarded a few weeks later with the most unlikely award, Portrait of an Excellent Woman award. Eat your hearts out, all Mzbel critics! LOL

In recognition of her fight against child molestation and her desire to assist the less privileged in society, Shear Power Ventures, organizers of the Portrait of an Excellent Woman, presented the Encouragement Award to Mzbel. A victim of several abuses herself; she captivated the organizers with her courage and sheer will power. Mzbel was molested in 2006 by students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology during a performance in that school and later that year, she was attacked and abused in her home by some unscrupulous armed robbers.

According to Ewura Adwoa Buahema, Development Facilitator for Shear Power Ventures, “this young lady has in recent times suffered traumatic experiences within our society. She has been physically and emotionally abused, publicly criticized and perhaps misunderstood.”

As part of this recognition, Mzbel will address a US conference for African Women in the Diaspora in June for her anti-child molestation campaign in Ghana. Even though Mzbel may not be the ideal portrait of an excellent woman by a long chalk, I believe she has been through quite a bit and she deserves her recognition. She needs a break, Ghana!