The 25th edition of the Ghana Music Awards Europe (GMAEU25) lit up the city of Gent, Belgium, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with a night of glitz, glamour, and unforgettable performances celebrating the best of Ghanaian music at home and abroad.

Dubbed the “Classic Night”, the event was staged at the Theaterzaal Ledeberg, bringing together industry stakeholders, artists, fans, and diaspora communities for its 4th edition hosted in Belgium.

With a red-carpet session at 7 p.m. and the main show at 9 p.m., the awards once again cemented their place as one of the most prestigious platforms showcasing Ghana’s musical excellence in the diaspora.

Big Winners of the Night

Stonebwoy emerged as the biggest winner of the night, scooping the coveted Artiste of the Year award. The dancehall heavyweight also bagged Best Afrobeat Song with “Jejereje” and Best Reggae/Dancehall Song with “Psalm 23”, reaffirming his dominance across multiple genres.

In the gospel category, Empress Gifty was crowned Gospel Artiste of the Year, while in the diaspora wing, Nana Yaa Otchere (Mz Nana) won Best Diaspora Gospel Artiste of the Year, a recognition that further solidifies her growing influence as a gospel minister abroad. Mz Nana expressed gratitude to God, her family, and supporters, promising to continue using her music to spread the Christian message.

Rising star Rap Fada was named New Artiste of the Year, while Kwaku Smoke walked away with a double win — Best Hiplife/Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year and Best Rap Performance of the Year.

King Paluta’s smash hit “Aseda” was adjudged Most Popular Song of the Year, while Kwabena Kwabena took home Songwriter of the Year with “Fakye Me”. King Promise also claimed Afrobeat/Afropop Song of the Year with his international hit “Paris”, while Fameye’s “Very Soon” secured the Best Highlife Song award.

Other major winners included Kuami Eugene (Best Highlife Artiste of the Year), Kidi ft Black Sherif (Collaboration of the Year), and Nacee for Political Campaign Song of the Year with “Asempa na Aba”.

A Night for the Diaspora

The GMAEU25 also celebrated the vibrant contributions of Ghanaian artists in the diaspora. Key winners included: Best Diaspora Artiste of the Year – Samuel Sey; Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artiste – Kuame Sucre; Best Diaspora Gospel Song – Grace Dansowaa; Best Diaspora Highlife Artiste – KG; Best Diaspora Reggae/Dancehall Artiste – Kro Leo; Best Diaspora New Artiste – Mini Felicia Boadu; Best Female Vocalist of the Year – Lady Ann; Best Male Vocalist of the Year – Samuel Sey; Best Instrumentalist of the Year – Shab Crew Band; Best Diaspora DJ of the Year – DJ Clif.

These categories highlight the growing global footprint of Ghanaian music, ensuring that talents abroad are given due recognition.

A Celebration of Culture and Music

With sponsorship from Taptap Send and media partnerships including Joy Entertainment, Zongo Link, Kpanlogo Radio, Nananom.com, and Adom 106.3 FM, the awards night blended music, fashion, and culture.

Attendees turned up in elegant outfits that reflected the “Classic Night” theme, making the red-carpet moments just as exciting as the award presentations.

The GMAEU has, over the years, become a powerful cultural bridge between Ghana and its diaspora, not only celebrating music but also uniting communities across Europe and beyond.

As Ghanaian music continues to gain international recognition, this year’s winners have once again demonstrated the depth of talent and creativity in the industry, proving that Ghana’s musical heritage remains strong both at home and abroad.