And why not? The two are considered the strongest contenders in the Artiste of the Year category with their volume of works and records in the year under review being winning assets. They are vying for the biggest award with Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, King Promise, Camidoh, KiDi and Joe Mettle.

Yes, the two meet the criteria for the Artiste of the Year award; however, since the nominations list came out, Piesie Esther has been relentless in her campaigns. Talk of her many media tours, interviews and most importantly, her serious social media campaigns to garner public votes but can the same be said of Black Sherif, popularly known as Blacko?

Unlike Piesie Esther whose social media pages are flooded with fliers appealing for votes, checks by Graphic Showbiz on the various social media pages of the Kwaku The Traveller hitmaker shows he has not made a single post about his VGMA nominations as of Tuesday, May 2, four days to the main show which comes off on Saturday, May 6 at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

Even though some industry players and some of his colleagues, including Kofi Kinaata, Reggie Rockstone and comedian OB Amponsah, have tipped him to carry the night, Blacko himself has not shown much commitment.

He just posted yesterday, May 3. “You've seen my blood, sweat & tears. You've seen the ups & downs of my journey. I've had my lips shut, and my eyes opened ever since I stepped in the game. I don't plan on changing that, not today, not tomorrow. Let's go, VGMA.”

Interestingly, the Blacko/Piesie Esther race for the topmost prize of Artiste of the Year has sparked another Gospel/secular ‘battle’.

This is it. Until 2017 when Gospel singer Joe Mettle made history by winning the VGMA Artiste of the Year, it was not far-fetched to assume the category was unfamiliar to the “Ambassadors of Christ”.

At the time, it seemed the VGMA Artiste of the Year was the preserve of secular artistes. But four years after Mettle’s win, another Gospel act, Diana Hamilton, walked home from the Grand Arena of the AICC with the biggest award on the VGMA night.

These ‘last hour’ outcomes show that Gospel artistes are definitely not pushovers in the topmost category and that is why the “loud silence” by Blacko pitched next to the massive campaigns by the Waye Me Yie hitmaker questions the former’s seriousness about winning the topmost VGMA prize.

Artiste of the Year Definition

The Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the year under review.

The above indicates that apart from the Board and Academy, the public equally has a say and that is why it is quite disappointing that Black Sherif is not putting any effort to secure votes.

Reactions

Media personality Caleb Nii Boye wrote this on Facebook, “VGMAs x Blacko !!!

“Is Black Sheriff really interested?? 4 days to the main event and there hasn’t been a single post from him on his socials!!

“Anyway—-  let’s wait”.

Music producer, Wei Ye Oteng told Graphic Showbiz that Blacko deserves to win but Piesie had been working tirelessly for it.

“If Black Sherif is not careful, Piesie Esther might pull a surprise on Saturday because she is busily campaigning for votes and she also did well last year,” he noted.