By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana’s music industry is shining brighter on the continental stage as Amaarae, Moliy and Wendy Shay have all earned nominations in the Best Female Artiste (West Africa) category of the upcoming All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA 2025). The recognition highlights the diversity, creativity, and global reach of Ghanaian female acts, cementing their influence in Africa’s contemporary music space.
Amaarae: Genre-Bending Global Star
Born Ama Serwah Genfi, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter has become a force in alternative African pop. After the global success of her 2020 album The Angel You Don’t Know and the viral hit Sad Girlz Luv Money remix with Kali Uchis, Amaarae has continued to push boundaries. In April 2025, she made history as the first Ghanaian-born female artist to perform a solo set at Coachella. Earlier this month, she released her third studio album Black Star—an eclectic mix of Ghanaian highlife, baile funk, and dance grooves, exploring identity and cultural liberation.
Moliy: The Wondergirl of Afro-Fusion
At just 23, Moliy Ama Montgomery is already a household name across Africa. Her breakout came with her feature on Amaarae’s Sad Girlz Luv Money, which charted globally. Known for blending Afrobeats with alté and Afro-fusion, Moliy has been praised for her emotional songwriting and futuristic sound. Her debut EP Wondergirl in 2020 laid the foundation, and in 2024, her single Shake It to the Max (Fly) topped the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. Moliy has since become a regular voice on international playlists and global campaigns spotlighting African women in music.
Wendy Shay: Queen of Afrobeat Energy
Wendy Asiamah Addo, better known as Wendy Shay, continues to dominate as one of Ghana’s most consistent hitmakers. The former nurse-turned-singer signed to RuffTown Records in 2018, stepping into the limelight after the passing of Ebony Reigns. Her debut single Uber Driver announced her arrival, and she has since churned out multiple chart-topping Afropop and highlife songs. In 2021, she was named among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music at the 3Music Awards. Beyond the studio, Wendy Shay holds cultural authority—having been enstooled as a Queen Mother in Gomoa Afransi under the stool name Queen Ewurabena Ofosuhemaa Shay I.
Ghana’s Moment at AFRIMA
The nominations of Amaarae, Moliy, and Wendy Shay illustrate the evolution of Ghana’s female music scene, with artists moving seamlessly from local stages to global recognition. From Amaarae’s experimental artistry, through Moliy’s fusion-driven freshness, to Wendy Shay’s unapologetic Afropop dominance, Ghana’s representation at AFRIMA 2025 is both historic and diverse.
The AFRIMA Awards Ceremony is scheduled to take place later this year, and fans across Africa will be watching to see if Ghana’s “triple queens” can bring home the coveted title.
