The debate on which artiste takes over from reigning VGMA Artiste of the Year, Joe Mettle, has begun in earnest.

Perhaps, for fans of Joe Mettle, the entire discourse is premature as they may have hopes of keeping the crown on the head of the gospel artiste for another year. While we await the day of reckoning, an assessment of chances won’t be out of place.

Songstress Ebony is the second after Fancy Gadam to openly state with certainty that she will win the Artiste of the Year.

In an interview with Doreen Avio, during the release of her album titled ‘Bonyfied’, the singer stated that she deserves to walk away with the crown early next year. “First of all, I shall win. Amen. Second of all, I am hopeful. May the best win. I feel like I deserve it,” she asserted.

The artiste, whose sexually provocative appearances have been of concern to many, believes that she has performed creditably well in the year to win the award.

“We’ve worked really hard this year. If I win, it is out of merit…Even if I don’t, Joe [Mettle] said, as children of God we get things we don’t deserve,” she said.

The public declarations by Fancy Gadam and Ebony have triggered many reactions from entertainment pundits.

A regular pundit on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog, believes that Fancy Gadam deserves it the more. Undoubtedly, the numerous music fans who have enjoyed tunes like ‘Sponsor’, ‘Poison’, ‘Hustle’ among others from Ebony will advance strong arguments on why the ‘90s Bad Girl’ deserves to win Artiste of the Year.

Ebony launched her first album titled ‘Bonyfied’ on Wednesday at the Golden Tulip Hotel in the presence of corporate personalities, music stars and some industry players.