It’s about that time when we take an introspective look at our gospel industry courtesy of Groove Awards.
And this year, there were some surprises as names that we take for granted would be announced were notably absent. And from the look of things, the gospel fraternity want to take things on an entirely different trajectory, perhaps one that doesn’t have prayer partners and high profile secular artist collaborations?
Check out these nifty stories about three gospel artists and their prayer partners:
Either way, at the end of the day, the day ends. Check out the nominees of the 2017 Groove Awards:
| MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR | RAGGA/REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR | GOSPEL RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR | COASTAL COUNTIES SONG OF THE YEAR | WESTERN AFRICA ARTIST OF THE YEAR |
| Daddy Owen | General – Hopekid | Gospel Night Live – Ghetto Radio | Kaza Roho – Princess Farida & Michael Yena | Ada (Nigeria) |
| Eko Dydda | Godly Love – Mannaseh | Gospel Sunday – Milele FM | M’barikiwa – Princess Farida | Frank Edwards (Nigeria) |
| Guardian Angel | Holy Ghost Party – Alemba, DJ Sadic & Guardian Angel | Gospel Switch – Truth FM | Nikone – Masha Mapenzi | Joe Praize (Nigeria) |
| Kris Eeh Baba | Light It Up – Garvey Royal Ft. Majic Mike | Shangilia – Hope FM | Umenifaa – Eve Bahati | Ohemaa Mercy (Ghana) |
| Pastor Anthony Musembi | Paza Sauti – TPK Sons Ft. Coopy Bly & Dj Sadic | Shangwe – Radio Maisha | Yuko Nawe – Mercy D Lai | Preachers (Ghana) |
| Pitson | Talk – Warda | Turnt – Kubamba Radio | Yule Yule – Yvonne Aphia | Sinach (Nigeria) |
| FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR | HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR | GOSPEL RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR | EASTERN COUNTIES SONG OF THE YEAR | EASTERN & CENTRAL AFRICA ARTIST OF THE YEAR |
| Alice Kimanzi | Thitimaahh – Stonee Jiwe | Amani Aila – Hope FM | Inkatho – Sherry Pam | Ahavah Gospel Singers (Ethiopia) |
| Evelyn Wanjiru | Ushai Notice – Holy Dave | DJ Ruff – Ghetto Radio | Munyanya Waw’o – Justus Myelo | Angel Benard (Tanzania) |
| Kambua | Vidole – Eko Dydda | Eva Mwalili – Milele FM | Musili Wa Kati – Pastor Dan Mutemi | Gisubizo Ministries (Rwanda) |
| Mercy Masika | Worldwide – Recapp | Jay Njoroge – Homeboyz Radio | Nguma – Wilberforce Musyoka | Goodluck Gozbert (Tanzania) |
| Princess Farida | Yesu Ndio Kusema – Scooby The Lazy Rapper Ft. Eko Dydda | Kerry Kagiri – Kubamba Radio | Wi Munene – Sophie Nyoroka | Levixone (Uganda) |
| Size 8 | You – Churchill King & Recapp | Tess Libanze – Truth FM | Yesu Nde Compe – Stephen Kasolo | Mireille Basirwa (DRC) |
| GROUP OF THE YEAR | ALBUM OF THE YEAR | DJ OF THE YEAR | WESTERN COUNTIES SONG OF THE YEAR | Special Categories |
| Adawnage | Ambition – Recapp | DJ GeeGee | Amba Khu Yesu – Grace Sunday | |
| Kelele Takatifu | Matendo – Evelyn Wanjiru | DJ Mo | Khubira Byosi – Timothy Kitui Ft. Ole Willy | |
| Kymo & Stigah | Natamani Nikuone – Laura Karwirwa | DJ Mzito | Omwami – Violet Wanjala Ft. Rufftone | |
| Mwanga Band | Optimo Worship – Pastor Anthony Musembi | DJ Ruff | Reke Sieve – Humphrey Onzere | |
| Recapp | We Will Rule – Mwanga Band | DJ Sadic | Were Wakama Ya – Pastor Robert Lumbasi | |
| TPK Sons | Wimbo Mpya – Florence Mureithi | DJ Sam Omol | Wireve – Betty Amulele | |
| NEW ARTIST/NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR | AFRO-POP SONG OF THE YEAR | TALENT TO WATCH | CENTRAL COUNTIES SONG OF THE YEAR | |
| Ben C | Aina Noma – Kelele Takatifu | Dan The DJ | Geria Ringi – Jane Muthoni | |
| Dar Mjomba | Bamba Mbaya – Kelele Takatifu | Frank The DJ | Githima Kia Ma – Shiro Wa GP | |
| Sharon | Bazokizo – Collo & Bruz Newton | MC Neb | Makumbi – Njoroge James | |
| Slejj | Boom Aye – Majic Mike Ft. Kambua | MC Price | Mwana – Loise Kim | |
| Stonee Jiwe | He Did It – Kris Eeh Baba | Nasara | Ti Itheru – Alex Karani | |
| Weezdom | Thitima Anthem – Kymo & Stigah | Noiz | Wi Ngai – Paul Waiganjo | |
| SONG OF THE YEAR | COLLABO OF THE YEAR | TV SHOW OF THE YEAR | NYANZA COUNTIES SONG OF THE YEAR | |
| Bamba Mbaya – Kelele Takatifu | Bazokizo – Collo & Bruz Newton | Angaza – KBC | Esiorori Yabanyarire – Judy Mamahh | |
| Bazokizo – Collo & Bruz Newton | Boom Aye – Majic Mike Ft. Kambua | Crossover 101 – NTV | Jakayuda Iberna – Joan Amayo | |
| Huyu Yesu – Mercy Masika & Angel Benard | Hautasumbuka Tena – Stephen Kasolo Ft. Rose Muhando | Pambazuka – Citizen | Laudikia – Fenny Kerubo | |
| Kutembea Nawe – Rebekah Dawn | Huyu Yesu – Mercy Masika & Angel Benard | Rauka – Citizen | Mano Nyasaye – Fenny Fain | |
| Pale Pale – Size 8 | Kuna Day (Remix) – Jimmy Gait & Friends | The Switch – K24 | Ruoth Ohera – John Okidi | |
| Thitima Anthem – Kymo & Stigah | Wewe Ni Mungu – Daddy Owen Ft. Rigan Sarkozi | Tukuza – KTN | Wir Mari – Elijah Jalogo | |
| WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR | VIDEO OF THE YEAR | RIFT VALLEY COUNTIES SONG OF THE YEAR | SOUTHERN AFRICA ARTIST OF THE YEAR | |
| Jehovah – Frank | Anatimiza – Kambua | Abaibai Ane – Moses Sirgoi | Chileshe Bwalya (Zambia) | |
| Kutembea Nawe – Rebekah Dawn | I Live For You – Adawnage | Achame Jeso – Cathy Komen | Khaya Mtethwa (South Africa) | |
| Let Praises Rise (Cover) – Alice Kimanzi | Overflow – Alemba & DJ Sadic Ft. Sammy Dee | Atiriren – Maggy Cheruiyot | Lebo Sekgobela (South Africa) | |
| Patakatifu Pako – Erick Smith | Pale Pale – Size 8 | Etadamua – Maryanne Naipasoi Tutuma | Pompi (Zambia) | |
| Tuma Mvua – David Adede Ft. Sarah K | Worldwide – Recapp | Shilishil – Stephen Leken | Tembalami (Zimbabwe) | |
| Umetukuka – Israel Ezekia | You – Churchill King & Recapp | Taai – Emmy Kosgei | Zimpraise (Zimbabwe) |
