Sista Afia Expresses Hurt Over TGMA Nominations Snub

Before the organisers of the annual Telecel Ghana Movie Awards (TGMAs) officially announced this year’s nominations list, Sista Afia raised concerns about her ongoing exclusion from the event.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz on Monday, February 3, the “Jeje” hitmaker expressed her frustration and disappointment over the situation. She explained that despite her hard work over the years, she has consistently been overlooked by an awards scheme that is meant to recognise and reward hard work.

Sista Afia shared that the issue began in 2017 when her song Jeje, featuring Shatta Wale, failed to secure a nomination. She referred to this as a “curse” that seemed to persist until 2021 when she finally received nominations for her tracks Corner Corner (featuring Kelvyn Boy) and Weather (featuring Medikal). However, her song Asuoden, released a year later, was not nominated, and she continued to be overlooked, prompting her to call out the organisers last year.

“I’ve been dissatisfied with the few TGMA nominations I’ve received. When I released Jeje, I didn’t get any nominations, despite the song’s success. It wasn’t until I dropped Corner Corner and Weather in 2021 that I was recognised. Since then, I haven’t been nominated, and that has been concerning to me,” she said.

Despite this, Sista Afia remains hopeful for change this year. She shared that she is aiming for about three nominations, specifically in the categories of Highlife Song of the Year, Highlife Artiste of the Year, and Collaboration of the Year.

The singer, who released 2 Things in the year under review, also emphasized the responsibility of artists to give back to their communities and contribute to the greater good. She highlighted the importance of collective efforts in creating positive change, whether it’s donating resources to schools, supporting vulnerable individuals, or initiating social projects.

Sista Afia believes that artists can use their influence to make a meaningful difference, and even small contributions can have a significant impact. “As musicians, we can all come together and help society in various ways. For example, we can provide books for students in schools that lack them, or support children with disabilities and others in need.”

“As musicians, we shouldn’t just stay home writing songs. We have to actively work towards creating positive change in society. Even the smallest effort we make can have a big impact,” she said.