Ghanaian musician Emperor T-Jiga has added another major international honour to his career after winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the 2026 Ghana Music Awards Europe in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The recognition comes after years of creating music that blends Afrobeat, highlife, hiplife, hip hop and other African musical influences while connecting audiences in Ghana and the diaspora.
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For Emperor T-Jiga, the award is a reflection of a musical journey that has produced a catalogue of songs including Kilode, Yeloi, Sugar, Super Star, Pretty Jeniki, Saka Saka and Fine Fine Lady. His music has continued to showcase his versatility as a singer, songwriter, performer, drummer, producer and teaching artist.
One of the records that has played an important role in his recent recognition is Super Star, featuring Bepor Keddi and Cabrinny Gh. The song previously earned Emperor T-Jiga the Hiplife and Hip Hop Song of the Year award at the 2025 Ghana Music Awards USA, giving him another major milestone within the Ghanaian diaspora music community.
His catalogue, however, extends beyond Super Star.
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Kilode, featuring Young Freezy, became another important record in his career and won Best International Collaboration at the 2022 Ghana Music Awards USA. The song also received a nomination for US Based Afropop Song of the Year.
Yeloi, featuring Kotey Another and Nii Funny, further demonstrated his ability to work across different sounds and collaborators. The song was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA.
In 2023, Emperor T-Jiga released Sugar, a record influenced by the sounds of African music pioneers including Osibisa and Fela Kuti. The song was subsequently nominated for Afropop/Afrobeat Song of the Year at the 2024 Ghana Music Awards USA.
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His more recent work has continued to expand his musical identity. Awula Feefeo has been featured among his recent releases, while his official YouTube catalogue also includes Fine Fine Lady.
Beyond his recordings, Emperor T-Jiga’s musical background gives further context to his sound. He is also an accomplished drummer, dancer, producer and music educator, with a career that has involved African music and cultural education in the United States. His work with the Akwaaba Ensemble has also allowed him to combine performance, education and cultural preservation.
That combination of musicianship and cultural identity has become an important part of Emperor T-Jiga’s artistic journey. His music does not simply seek to entertain but also draws from African rhythms, experiences and influences while presenting them to audiences in the diaspora.
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His latest achievement in Düsseldorf therefore represents another step in a career that has consistently crossed geographical and musical boundaries.
Winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards Europe places Emperor T-Jiga among the artistes helping to carry Ghanaian music and African sounds into international spaces.
As the celebrations continue, the award adds another significant chapter to his story and provides further momentum for an artiste whose music, performances and cultural work continue to reach audiences beyond Ghana.
Ghanaian actor William Lamptey has secured a place among the top 12 finalists of the Africa Monologue Challenge, earning recognition for Ghana in a continental acting competition that has attracted thousands of participants from Africa and the diaspora.
William Lamptey, who has become known to Ghanaian audiences through his work in film and television, advanced to the final 12 after competing against more than 20,000 participants worldwide.
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His achievement adds another significant milestone to a growing acting career that has seen him take on roles across film, television and theatre.
William Lamptey is particularly recognised for his appearance in the popular Ghanaian youth television series YOLO, where he joined the cast in its fifth season. He has also built a film portfolio that includes the internationally recognised feature film The Fisherman.
In The Fisherman, Lamptey plays Kobina, one of three young friends who join the central character on a journey to pursue their dream of securing a boat. The film, directed by Zoey Martinson, premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and became Ghana’s first official selection for the prestigious festival.
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The film has gone on to receive considerable international attention, with Lamptey’s performance contributing to his growing profile as an actor. He was also nominated for Discovery of the Year at the 2026 Ghana Movie Awards for his performance in The Fisherman.
Beyond The Fisherman and YOLO, Lamptey has appeared in productions including On February 14, where he played Travis, as well as The Queen of Akra trilogy. He has also featured in the film The Purse and the upcoming drama Little Lady.
His work extends beyond screen acting. Lamptey has also participated in theatre productions including Accra We Dey, Ghana Must Go, Potholes and Osofo’s Wahala, demonstrating his versatility across different forms of performance.
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The Africa Monologue Challenge now presents another opportunity for the actor to demonstrate his range on a wider platform.
With Ghana represented among the final 12, supporters of the actor are being encouraged to vote for Lamptey as he seeks to emerge as the overall winner.
Voting is free, and Ghanaians have been urged to rally behind the actor and help him secure victory for Ghana.
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Vote via the link below
https://www.africamonologue.com/vote