Top 10 Music Exports From the Volta Region in 2017
Popularly christened in the Ghanaian parlance as Number 9s, Voltarians have emerge as some of the most successful Ghanaians in all spheres, most importantly Entertainment.
The Region has paid its dues in creating valuable Human Resources for the benefit of the country and the world at large.
Noted among the smartest people in Ghana, Voltarians are renowned to be very educative and for this reason, the roles they tend to play in various sectors of the economy have been very imperative.
Legends noted to be very influential, some Voltarians such as Philip Gbeho (National Anthem Composer), Jerry John Rawlings (1st President of the 4th Republic), Komla Dumor (former BBC Anchor), UN Radio, have made immense contributions to the history of peace and stability that has become our reputation worldwide today. The pride of every Ghanaian.
The region also boasts great traditional rulers who are blazing trials in other fields of Business and Diplomacy, notably Togbe Afede XIV, Togbe Amenya Fiti V, Torgbui Sri III etc
Consequently, Volta Region notably has the Highest Height in Ghana, Mount Afadja (popularly called Fadjato in the Region), coupled with renowned Festivals and other tourist attractions.
Globally, music is noted as an asset that has evolved to become a great source of income, an entreprise that has also grown massive roots in the country.
Albeit the forgone, another asset this region has produced is its calibre of quality and widely celebrated entertainers from across the creative and arts industry. From consistent Hit makers turned global figures, Voltarians have gradually become forces to be reckoned with in the industry.
According to Felix G Fate Korku, Editor-at-Large and Co-Founder of nogokpo.com, one of the reasons why their outfit exists is to put the premium on showcasing what the region and Ghana at large has to offer the world.
Incumbent on that, we have taken the trouble to chronicle the Top 10 Musicians from the region (in Alphabetical Order)
1. 4X4
2. Celestine Donkor
3. Edem
4. EL
5. Magnom
6. M.anifest
7. MzVee
8. Stonebwoy
9. Worlasi
10. Yaa Pono
Below are brief bios as at the time of assemblage in December 2017.
In 2009, 4×4 released another album World Trade Center which went platinum. The title song went to number one on the singles chart in Ghana and is the first and currently only Ghanaian song to make the Urban Charts in Africa.
The gospel musician played a very important role in the national gospel anthem, ‘Go High’. She also has one studio album, Turning Around to her credit.
Edem won the Best International Act-Africa at 2015 Black Canadian Awards. Edem won 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Album of the Year Books and Rhymes. Sequel to that album were The Volta Regime (2009) and Mass Production (2011)
He won the Artiste of the Year at 2015/2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. He also won the 2015/2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Hip-life/Hip-hop Artiste of the Year.
He gained the attention of Ghanaians after he produced the song “illuminati” with Ghanaian BET award winner Sarkodie. He is composer of the Theme Song for AirtelTigo merger.
He has worked with the likes of Damon Albarn, Flea, Tony Allen, Erykah Badu, and is featured on five songs on the Rocket Juice and The Moon album. He is the grandson of one of Africa’s foremost ethnomusicogists and composers J.H. Kwabena Nketia. The Guardian named M.anifest as “the foremost rapper on the continent.
Aside several international collaborations, the rapper has 5 studio albums to his credit with recent one Nowherecool winning best album at the 2017 Midem International Awards, France.
MzVee’s impressive rise to the top continued with a nomination in June 2015 in the ‘Best International New Artist’ category at the BET Awards 2015. MzVee was also named in MTV Base’s list of the top African artists to watch out for in 2016.
Under “Samini Music”, Stonebwoy recorded his first hit single “Climax” featuring Samini and subsequently “Ghetto Love” featuring Irene Logan. Both songs earned him nominations at the Ghana Music Awards. After this exposure, he released his debut album “Grade 1 Album” under Samini Music which made him, a household name in the music industry. The vibrant dancehall artiste under his own record label, Burniton Music released two other albums; Necessary Evil (2013) and Livingston (2015)
In 2015 Stonebwoy signed a deal with VP Africa, a division of VP Records. He is currently signed onto Zylofon Media.
His breakthrough single, Ay3 Adz3 set him apart from his peers He caps off such focused and realistic lyricism with his mixtape project, Nus3 album released in September 2015 and Outer lane EP. He has worked and bagged features with artistes like EL, M.anifest, Hammer of Da Last Two, Sena Dagadu and shared songs with the likes of Sarkodie and Kwaw kese. He has shared stage with some of Ghana’s finest musical acts on platforms such as ACCRA [dot]ALT’s Sabolai Radio, rock group, Dark Suburb’s Awakening concert, Beatphreaks, The Unheard Voices etc.
After appearing on several local radio shows and competitions, Yaa Pono entered the studio in 1995. He can count artists such as Sarkodie, Stay Jay, Guru, D Cryme and Chris Waddle among his contemporaries as they often appeared together at gigs.
Ponobiom, as he is now affectionately called has two studio albums; A.R.T African Relaxation Techniques (2015) and Faster Than Gods (2017) to his credit.
Collated by Nogokpo.com and Supported by Dklassgh.com
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