Ghanaian instrumentalists win awards in Benin

Though instrumentalists actively contribute to the success of other artistes, especially vocalists, they don’t always get the requisite acknowledgement.

The Best Instrumentalists of Africa Festival (MIA) was, therefore, set up in Cotonou, Benin, to recognise outstanding instrumentalists on the continent and two Ghanaians were honoured at the 2015 event held last month.

Percussionist Abigail Narkie Teye, a member of the Women of Colour Band, led by Della Hayes, and keyboardist, Opoku Mensa, won the top prizes in the traditional instrument and keyboards categories, respectively.

It was the second year running that a MIA award had come to Ghana. Akablay of the Abiza Band won the Best Guitarist trophy at the 2014 festival. 

“Ghana abounds in fantastic instrumentalists and it is significant that the rest of the continent is waking up to it,” Della Hayes said about Ghana winning two of the five trophies at stake.

Instrumentalists from Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Swaziland, Kenya, Morocco and Tanzania took part in the 2015 festival.