The Sunshine Arts, Music & Achievers (SAMA) awards has been scheduled for July 2, at Alliance Francaise, at 7 p.m. It is aimed at rewarding stars of yesteryears and to encourage Ghanaian musicians and artistes to promote culture, especially among the youth, and to revive live band performances to boost tourism.

SAMA categories to be awarded included: Highlife Song of the Year (Kente Award), Dance Music of the Year (Osibi Agoro), Kpanlogo Award, Nwomtofohemaa, David Sanku, Ahomansiahene Seprewa Award and Evergreen Highlife Song.

The rest are Music Talent, Contemporary Music, Best Sound Engineer, Best Instrumentalist, All-time Hit Song, Hit maker of Yesteryear and Gospel Song of the Year.

Others are Gospel Music Discovery, Consistent Gospel Artiste, Promising Gospel Artiste, Dazzling Hiplife Artiste and Music Personality.

According to Okyeame Kwame Bediako, President of SAMA, there will be live band musical performances during which dressed in local Ghanaian and African batiks and designs. The whole event will be made a truly Ghanaian and African presentation depicting the SAMA motto “Promoting Our Culture”.

A day after the awards presentation, SAMA awardees will be hosted at Asanka Locals at Madina behind IPS and treated to local dishes like fufu, banku, tuo zaafi and akple where there will be interactions with the media.

SAMA awardees are selected by a SAMA awards committee, and letters sent to the awardees notifying them of SAMA’s intention to recognize them. SAMA awards package will be announced in June.

Some of the award nominees include Lucky Mensah, Nana Ampadu, Slim Busterr, Esther Smith, Castro the Destroyer and Daasebre Gyamena.

Terry Bonchaka will receive a post-humous award, alongside Santo and Akwasi Ampofo Adjei (AAA).