By Seli Baisie
King Promise has been crowned Artiste of the Year at the 26th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), cementing his place in Ghana’s music industry.
The Paris hitmaker emerged victorious in a hotly contested category that included Black Sherif, Stonebwoy, King Paluta, Joe Mettle, Team Eternity, and Kweku Smoke.
This marks King Promise’s first-ever win of the TGMA’s top honour, a milestone that many in the industry have long anticipated.
In total, the Afrobeats star walked away with four awards on the night:
- Artiste of the Year
- Best Afropop Song of the Year (Paris)
- Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year
- Best Album/EP of the Year (True to Self)
His track Paris clinched Best Afropop Song of the Year, celebrated for its smooth melodies and emotional resonance. Later in the night, he was awarded Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, boosted by the success of tracks like Favourite Story.
He also took home Best Album/EP of the Year for True to Self, a project praised for its cohesiveness, lyrical depth, and genre-blending production.
Accepting the Artiste of the Year award, King Promise thanked his fans, team, and family, stating, “This is for everyone who believed in the dream. We’re just getting started.”
A steady rise to the top
Born Gregory Bortey Newman, King Promise burst onto the Ghanaian music scene in 2016 with his breakout single Thank God featuring Fuse ODG. Known for his smooth vocals, lyrical vulnerability, and blend of highlife, Afrobeats, and R&B, he quickly earned a reputation as one of Ghana’s most promising talents.
His debut album As Promised (2019) received critical acclaim and featured collaborations with international artists such as Wizkid and Raye. Follow-up projects like 5 Star and True to Self further expanded his fan base across Africa and the diaspora, cementing his reputation as a global artist rooted in Ghanaian sound.
Over the years, King Promise has consistently delivered hits while refining his sound and stagecraft, qualities that made his 2025 TGMA triumph both well-deserved and widely celebrated.
The 26th TGMA, held at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, brought together Ghana’s top musical talent for a night of live performances, emotional tributes, and industry recognition.
With this win, King Promise now stands among an elite group of Ghanaian artists who have claimed the ultimate accolade in Ghanaian music.
