Okyeame Kwame

Kwame Nsiah Apau (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Okyeame Kwame and nicknamed Rap Doctor^[1] is Ghanaian musician, song writer, Creative Director and entrepreneur.^[2] His one of the best musicians we have in Ghana with a lot of entertaining music, his lyrics are always pleasant to the ears.

Life and career

Kwame Nsiah Apau was born in Nsuta, Ashanti Region of Ghana. He is the third of six siblings. His two younger brothers, Kwaku Nsiah Boamah nicknamed "Stone" and Kwaku Nsiah Amankwah nicknamed "Kunta Kinte", also perform nowadays as the hiplife duo "Bradez".^[3][4] His parents expected him to become a physician, yet he gained interest in rap music from a very young age, having written his own songs and performed in local shows ever since he attended the Anglican Secondary School in Kumasi.^[5] He later attended Kwame Nkrumah University, where he studied music and specialized in classical guitar, later graduated as a linguist.^[6] In 1997 he achieved notoriety as a member of the "Akyeame" hiplife duo, together with fellow Ghanaian Daniel Kofi Amoateng (under the stage name Okyeame Kofi). They recorded together the albums "Nyansapo" ("Witty Knot", 1997), "Nkonsonkonson" ("Shackles", 1998), "Ntoaso" ("Continuity", 2000) and "Apam Foforo" ("New Testament", 2002). He performed solo under his own record label One Mic Entertainment, in Accra since they parted in 2004.^[7][8] Kwame also launched in 2012 "The Versatile Show", produced by himself and performed biannually at the National Theatre, a theater show in which he blends his music with drama and poetry.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Okyeame Kwame sings mostly in Twi dialect of the Akan language of Ghana. His stage name Okyeame means "linguist (of the royal court)" in Akan.^[13]

Discography

Kwame released his first solo album "Boshe Ba" (Promised Child) in 2004, just after the breakup of the Akyeame band. He followed in 2008 with "Manwesem" (My Poetry) and in 2011 with "The Clinic", launched at the Aphrodisiac Night Club in Accra.^[14] In 2012 he launched "The Versatile Show" ("Konfanko").^[6]

Film and television

Okyeame Kwame has helped to discover native African talents by working as a judge on music reality shows in Ghana and has also acted in Ghanaian films Ties That Bind, The Comforter and Amsterdam Diary.^[15][16]

Personal life

Kwame is married since 2009 to Annica Nsiah-Apau and they have two children together, Bota and Sante Antwiwaa.^[17] He runs his own record label One Mic Entertaiment and also Firm Bridges Communications, co-founded with his wife,^[17] and he is also partner in the shoe manufacturing company Horseman Shoes.^[18]

Philanthropy

Okyeame Kwame founded in 2009 the Okyeame Kwame Foundation, to raise public awareness on hepatitis B and to provide screening, prevention and education to mitigate the disease in Ghana.^[6][18] Periodic screening and vaccination campaigns are held throughout Ghana, attended by hundreds of people who receive free vaccines.^[19] In 2014, he staged the Celebrity Car Wash, an event including sports, games and photoshoots with celebrities in East Legon, to raise funds in support of his campaign to provide free vaccination to at least 1000 Ghanaians.^[20] The foundation has initiated and sponsored the construction of a hepatitis B treatment facility in Tamale.^[1]

Awards & Nominations

References