Arathejay Receives Wave of Support as The Odyssey Misses TGMA Glory

The dust has barely settled on the nominations for the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA). Still, one notable omission has ignited widespread debate and passionate support across Ghana’s music community: rising star Arathejay’s debut album, The Odyssey failing to secure a spot in the Album/EP of the Year category.

Despite strong streaming performance, critical acclaim, and consistent chart presence throughout much of the eligibility period, The Odyssey was left out of the nominees list, which includes projects like Black Sherif’s Iron Boy, Medikal’s Disturbation 2, Stonebwoy’s Torcher, Gyakie’s After Midnight, Wendy Shay’s Ready, and Kweku Smoke’s Walk With Me.

The snub has sparked a wave of fan outrage, with many arguing that Arathejay’s body of work deserved recognition for its cohesive storytelling, cultural resonance, and commercial impact in Ghana’s Afrobeats and street-pop scenes.

In the hours following the nominations announcement on March 14, supporters flooded social media platforms with messages of solidarity. The phrase “Ara No Dey Sleep” — a nod to Arathejay’s viral post and energetic persona — trended as fans expressed disappointment and rallied around the artist.

Influential voices, including media personalities and critics, weighed in. One viral clip featured commentator Kwadwo Sheldon calling for Disturbation 2 to be replaced with The Odyssey, arguing that some nominated tracks fell short in quality and impact.

Comments on Instagram reels and posts echoed similar sentiments: fans praised the album’s popularity and questioned why it wasn’t shortlisted despite submission, with one user noting, “We all love good music. Big ups @arathejay, we appreciate your effort and love your music. Keep soaring higher!”

Arathejay himself responded with grace, sharing a motivational video captioned “ARA NO DEY SLEEP !!! “ that amassed thousands of likes, reposts, and supportive replies. While he hasn’t directly addressed the snub in detail, the post has become a rallying cry, emphasizing resilience and continued hard work.