Emperor T-Jiga wins Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at Ghana Music Awards Europe 2026
Ghanaian musician Emperor T-Jiga has added another major international honour to his career after winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the 2026 Ghana Music Awards Europe in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The recognition comes after years of creating music that blends Afrobeat, highlife, hiplife, hip hop and other African musical influences while connecting audiences in Ghana and the diaspora.
For Emperor T-Jiga, the award is a reflection of a musical journey that has produced a catalogue of songs including Kilode, Yeloi, Sugar, Super Star, Pretty Jeniki, Saka Saka and Fine Fine Lady. His music has continued to showcase his versatility as a singer, songwriter, performer, drummer, producer and teaching artist.
One of the records that has played an important role in his recent recognition is Super Star, featuring Bepor Keddi and Cabrinny Gh. The song previously earned Emperor T-Jiga the Hiplife and Hip Hop Song of the Year award at the 2025 Ghana Music Awards USA, giving him another major milestone within the Ghanaian diaspora music community.
His catalogue, however, extends beyond Super Star.
Kilode, featuring Young Freezy, became another important record in his career and won Best International Collaboration at the 2022 Ghana Music Awards USA. The song also received a nomination for US Based Afropop Song of the Year.
Yeloi, featuring Kotey Another and Nii Funny, further demonstrated his ability to work across different sounds and collaborators. The song was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA.
In 2023, Emperor T-Jiga released Sugar, a record influenced by the sounds of African music pioneers including Osibisa and Fela Kuti. The song was subsequently nominated for Afropop/Afrobeat Song of the Year at the 2024 Ghana Music Awards USA.
His more recent work has continued to expand his musical identity. Awula Feefeo has been featured among his recent releases, while his official YouTube catalogue also includes Fine Fine Lady.
Emperor T-Jiga has also received recognition in Ghana, with nominations at the Dangme Music Awards. He has been nominated for Best GaDangme Artiste of the Year, Best Music Video of the Year with Awula Feefeo, Best Diaspora Dangme Artiste of the Year, Reggae Song of the Year with Awula Feefeo and Cultural Ambassador of the Year.
The nominations further highlight the cultural dimension of his work and his connection to GaDangme music and identity, alongside his wider contribution to African music in the diaspora.
Beyond his recordings, Emperor T-Jiga’s musical background gives further context to his sound. He is also an accomplished drummer, dancer, producer and music educator, with a career that has involved African music and cultural education in the United States. His work with the Akwaaba Ensemble has also allowed him to combine performance, education and cultural preservation.
That combination of musicianship and cultural identity has become an important part of Emperor T-Jiga’s artistic journey. His music does not simply seek to entertain but also draws from African rhythms, experiences and influences while presenting them to audiences in the diaspora.
His latest achievement in Düsseldorf therefore represents another step in a career that has consistently crossed geographical and musical boundaries.
Winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards Europe places Emperor T-Jiga among the artistes helping to carry Ghanaian music and African sounds into international spaces.
As the celebrations continue, the award adds another significant chapter to his story and provides further momentum for an artiste whose music, performances and cultural work continue to reach audiences beyond Ghana.
Enjoy Awula Feefeo video below
