Mujahid Ahmed Bello (born 16 August 1988) known by his stage name Fancy Gadam, is a Ghanaian afropop, dancehall and reggae musician.[1][2] In 2017 he won Ghana Music Awards for Best New Artist[3] and in 2020 was named Best Afrobeat Entertainer at the International Reggae and World Music Awards.[4]

Fancy Gadam
Background information
Birth nameMujahid Ahmed Bello
Born (1988-08-16) 16 August 1988 (age 35)
Tamale, Ghana
OriginTamale
GenresAfropop, hiplife, Reggae, Dancehall
Occupation(s)Singer, Dancer, Songwriter
Labels5minutes Music

Early life and music career edit

Fancy Gadam was born in Hausa Zongo, a suburb of Tamale, the capital town of the Northern Region (Ghana). He completed his basic education at the Police Barracks Basic School in Tamale. Fancy Gadam started his music career at the age of 12 as a performer at schools and public events.[5]

Notable performances edit

On 1 December 2017, Fancy Gadam was one of the headline artists at the S Concert when he performed to the early hours of Saturday 2 December 2017.[6]

His Dream Album launch and concert, on 5 October 2019 pulled over 20,000 fan to the Tamale stadium (Now Aliu Mahama stadium).[7]

Fancy Gadam also performed at the Bukom boxing arena on 8 March 2020 as part of his Dream album tour. He was said to have previously toured Yeji, Nyong, Offinso, Bolgatanga, Koforidua, Wa.[8] Yendi, Kumbungu and Dallung

He participated in the 2017 and 2018 editions of Ghana meets Naija, an annual musical concert organized in Ghana to promote unity between Ghana and Nigeria. The concert also seeks to provide opportunity for music lovers to interact and take photographs with their favorite artists from both countries.[9][10]

Fancy Gadam on Easter Monday 2020 was invited to perform at the Covid-19 Virtual Concert together with other top Ghanaian artists for the launch of the Ghana Covid-19 Tracker software. An initiative to help trace and track persons with coronavirus in Ghana.[11]

Philanthropy edit

Fancy Gadam made a donation of assorted drinks, food and other items to the Yumbass special school, a special school for needy and less privileged in the northern region.[12]

On 30 December 2017, Fancy Gadam and his management, 5 minutes records made a donation of rice and several assorted items to the national chief imam of Ghana, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu.[13]

Endorsements edit

In 2016, Fancy Gadam signed a one-year deal with Twellium Company Limited, manufacturers of rush energy drink as the brand ambassador for the 3 northern regions of Ghana. He now joins other musicians like Rudebwoy Ranking, Shatta Wale and Kwadwo Nkansah as brand ambassadors for the fasting-growing energy drink in Ghana.[14]

On 2 January 2018, He was endorsed by the Ministry of Inner City And Zongo Development And The Commission For National Culture as the new Face of Zongo community at the Zongofest 2017, an event that is hosted to honor individuals who have contributed to the development of the Zongo communities in Ghana.[15]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

  • Laha zibsi
  • Nyagsim
  • Ashili
  • Takahi
  • Nawuni Yiko(God's Grace)
  • Mujahid (2018)

His 6th studio album "Dream" was released on 5 October 2019 with 13 tracks.[16]

  • Competition Album

Notable collaborations edit

Awards and nominations edit

Northern Entertainment Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Himself Overall Artiste of The Year[24] Won
2016 Himself Artiste Of The Year northern region[24] Won

Northern Music Awards (NMA) edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Himself Artiste of the Year[25] Won
2016 Concrete Most popular of the Year[25] Won
2016 Ototi kurigu Songwriter of the Year[25] Nominated
2016 Fancy Gadam ft. Mokid – Gadam Nation Best collaboration of the Year[25] Nominated
2016 Concrete Best video of the Year[25] Won

Jigwe Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Himself Jigwe New Act (Discovery)[26] Won

Bass Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Himself Discovery Of The Year[27] Won
2017 Himself Performer of the Year[28] Nominated

Vodafone Ghana Music Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Himself New Artist Of The Year[29] Won
2018 Himself Song of the Year-Total Cheat ft Sarkodie[30] Won
Hiplife Artiste of the Year Won

People's Celebrity Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Himself-Total cheat[31] Favourite music video category Won
2017 Himself-Total cheat[31] Favourite Song category Won

International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Himself- [32] Best Afrobeat Entertainer Won
2020 Himself- [33] Most Promising Entertainer Won

Ghana Entertainment Awards (USA) edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Himself- [34] Best Male Act Won

Ghana-Naija Showbiz Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Himself- [35] Best Male Act Won

All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMMA) edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Himself- [36] Best African Group Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Fancy Gadam to feature Shatta Wale on 'Juju'". Ghana Web. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Fancy Gadam unconcerned about awards snub". GhanaWeb. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  3. ^ "10 Reasons Why Tamale Is The Music Capital of Ghana". OkayAfrica. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Stonebwoy, Fancy Gadam & DJ Switch win big at IRAWMA 2020". msn. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. ^ Profile Ability. "Fancy Gadam". Profile Ability. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  6. ^ Ghana Web. "Fans stay to watch Fancy Gadam at 2017 S Concert!". Ghana Web. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Massive turnout at Fancy Gadam's 'Dream' concert". Graphic Showbiz Online. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  8. ^ Agency, Ghana News. "Fancy Gadam's Dream album tour lands in Accra | News Ghana". newsghana.com.gh. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Wizkid, Fancy Gadam, others ready for Ghana Meets Naija concert". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  10. ^ "2019 edition of 'Ghana Meets Naija' slated for June". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  11. ^ Acquah, Edward (13 April 2020). "Shatta Wale, Kuami Eugene, Fancy Gadam, Others for Covid-19 Virtual Concert TODAY". Kasapa102.5FM. Retrieved 1 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ A1 Radio. "FANCY GADAM MAKES A DONATION TO YUMBASS SPECIAL SCHOOL". A1 Radio. Retrieved 30 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Hyperlink Gh. "FANCY GADAM AND 5M CREW DONATES TO GHANAIAN MUSLIMS". Hyperlink Gh. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  14. ^ DC Leakers. "Fancy Gadam Signed As Brand Ambassador For Rush Energy Drink". Modern Ghana. DC Leakers. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  15. ^ Ghana live. "Fancy Gadem wins New Face Of Zongo Youth". Ghana live. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Download Fancy Gadam Dream Album Full Zip » CeleberitiesBuzzGh". CeleberitiesBuzzGh. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  17. ^ NytMare, Blogger's (3 July 2017). "Fancy Gadam – Total Cheat ft. Sarkodie (Prod. by KillBeatz)". Ghanamotion. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  18. ^ a b NytMare, Blogger's (6 October 2019). "Fancy Gadam – Best Friend ft. Stonebwoy (Prod. By Beatz Dakay)". Ghanamotion. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  19. ^ NytMare, Blogger's (3 October 2018). "Fancy Gadam – Ma Baby ft. Mugeez (R2Bees)". Ghanamotion. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  20. ^ GhanaSongs. "DOWNLOAD MP3 : Fancy Gadam ft Kuami Eugene - Only You". GhanaSongs - Ghana's Online Music Downloads. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  21. ^ GhanaSongs. "DOWNLOAD MP3 : Fancy Gadam – LangaLanga ft. Mr Eazi". GhanaSongs - Ghana's Online Music Downloads. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Fancy Gadam to feature Shatta Wale on 'Juju'". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  23. ^ NytMare, Blogger's (30 December 2017). "Fancy Gadam – Customer ft. Patoranking (Prod by Guilty)". Ghanamotion. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  24. ^ a b Northern Alive. "Full list of winners of the Northern Entertainment Awards 2016". Northern Alive. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  25. ^ a b c d e The Savanna online. "Full List of Winners - Northern Music Awards 2016". The Savanna online. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  26. ^ Ghana Web. "Fancy Gadam, Selly Galley, Obour others win at Jigwe Awards 2016". Ghana Web. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  27. ^ David, Mawuli. "Rocky Dawuni, Fancy Gadam, Stonebwoy win big; see full list of winners". Pulse Gh. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Stonebwoy leads nominations for BASS Awards 2017". Ghanaweb.com. Ghanaweb. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  29. ^ David, Mawuli. "Fancy Gadam sets new record at 2017 VGMA". Pulse Gh. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  30. ^ "Full list of Winners at the 2018 VGMA". primenewsghana.com. Prime News Ghana. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  31. ^ a b Ghana Web. "Full list of winners at 2017 People's Celebrity Awards". Ghana Web. Ghaa Web. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  32. ^ Muse Africa, Muse Africa. "Fancy Gadam crowned 'Best Afrobeat Entertainer' at 2020 IRAWMA". Muse Africa. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  33. ^ "37TH IRAWMA categories and winners". International Reggae & World Music Awards. IRAWMA. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  34. ^ Phylx, Akapko. "Full List Of Winners At 2019 Ghana Entertainment Awards USA". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  35. ^ Kasapa FM, Kasapa FM. "2018 Ghana-Naija Showbiz Awards: Peter Ritchie wins Best Actor". Ghana Web. Kasapa FM. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  36. ^ Gh One TV, Gh One TV. "Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Efya, R2Bees, OTHERS bag AFRIMM Awards nominations". Gh One TV. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

External links edit