Sparqlyn, a former member of the defunct music group Dunsin, has called on the organisers of the prestigious Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), Charterhouse, to introduce a new category to honour artistes for their old hit songs.
According to Sparqlyn, formerly known as Kele, this proposed category would be distinct from the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises veteran musicians. He argues that many Ghanaian artistes have created timeless classics that continue to resonate with audiences and maintain massive airplay long after their release.
“I think it’s about time we started recognising and rewarding our musicians for their old hit songs. These songs have become an integral part of our music heritage, and it’s only fair that we celebrate the people behind them,” Sparqlyn said.
He believes that introducing such a category would help preserve the legacies of veteran artistes and address the challenges they face, including declining recognition over time.
“How many times have we heard older artistes lament about being sidelined because people think they’re outdated and should step aside for younger ones? This perception has made it difficult for older artistes to thrive when they make a comeback,” he explained.
Sparqlyn also noted that such an award would bridge the generational gap in Ghana’s music industry, allowing younger audiences to appreciate the contributions of veteran artistes. “With this award in place, the younger generation will get to know the faces behind the classic hits and relate better to us when we release new music,” he added.
Charterhouse recently opened nominations for the 26th edition of the TGMA on Tuesday, January 21, inviting artistes, managers, record labels, producers, and other stakeholders to submit entries. This year, a new category, Best Urban/Contemporary Song of the Year, was introduced in response to calls from gospel artistes in that genre.
Sparqlyn, whose real name is Ahmmed Kanneh Larweh, expressed optimism that with strong advocacy and support from his peers, the idea of creating a category for old hit songs could be implemented in future editions.
“There’s a saying that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ I believe we are still shaping a robust awards scheme to strengthen our music industry, so this suggestion should also be considered moving forward,” he concluded.
Story by Obaapa Janee
