Lagos – Twenty-nine awards were handed out to some of the best contemporary Gospel artists in Nigeria at the Crystal Gospel Awards 2014 which held on Sunday night at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.
This is the second edition of the awards and that 24 of the awards were competitive, while the rest were “Special Awards’’.
The biggest winners of the night were PITA who won the “Artiste of the Year” and “Best Praise Song’’ and Frank Edwards who received the “Best Male Vocalist” and “Most Notable Achievement Award’’.
Other Special Awards’ winners are Wole Oni, “Crystan Icon Award’; Sammie Okposo “Lifetime Achievement Award’’ and Pastor Joseph Adelakun, “Evergreen Award” and Mr Omax Eshareturi, “Crystal Humanitarian Award’’.
Lara George received the “Best Female Vocalist’’; Nikki Laoye won the “Best Worship Song” with “Only You”; “Song of the Year’’ was “Morire”by Mike Abdul while “Best Group’’ was the Tehila Crew.
Other awards are: “Best Rap/Hip Hop’’ won by IBK Spaceshipboi; “Best Choir’’ — Grace Assembly Choir; “Album of the year” — Justified” by Eben; “Best New Artiste’’ — Preye and “Best Video -”You Are Great” by Ayo Vincent featuring Joe Praize.
The “Best Traditional Gospel’’ was Okiki Jesu; “Best Producer’’ — Wilson Joel; “Best Reggae’’ — Buchi; “Best Video Director” — Yinka Davids; “Best On-air Personality’” — DJ Gosporella and “Best Male Artiste In Diaspora’’ — Lawrence Ikiri.
More awards were for “Best Female Artiste In Diaspora’’ which went to Isabella; “Best Rock’” — Joe Praize; “Best Use Of Instrument’’ — Mike Aremu; “Comedian of The Year’’ — Akpororo.
The rest of the awards were “Best Collaboration’’ titled “Hail My King” by Obiwon featuring Frank Edwards, Eben and Kenny K’ore and “Best Urban/Inspirational’’ titled “Badman” by Henrisoul.
One of the major highlights of the night was when Tola Omoniyi the Chief Executive Officer of Praiseworld Radio knelt down on the stage to propose to his girlfriend, Mabel Okarofor, before they presented an award.
Another was the tribute to the late Kefee by Anny Ibrahim and Nikki Laoye which got many members of the audience emotional.
There were musical performances by Frank Edwards, Okiki Jesu, Tehila Crew, Chika 100% and comedian Akpororo.
The event was hosted by Nollywood actress, Doris Simeon and upcoming comedian, Grand Komanda.
The awards were instituted last year by the trio of Pastor Timi Adegoke, Victor Igbinigie and Pastor Adenkan Adebayor to celebrate Gospel music in Nigeria. (NAN)