26 years of music, 25 years of Ghana Music Awards race: Bragging rights of Okyeame Kwame

ON Saturday, June 1, when nominees in the various categories of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) are mentioned on the stage at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), one name that is sure to draw loads of respect will be rapper Okyeame Kwame, who is in contention for the Best Hiplife Song of the Year award.

However, even before a winner is declared for the category, Okyeame Kwame, 48, has the bragging rights as the only artiste who still makes the nomination list of TGMA, former Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), after being in the music business for 26 years.

This accomplishment may easily go unnoticed. However, for an industry that easily ‘swallows’ struggling young talents and has the insatiable thirst for ‘retiring’ artistes even in their prime, just because they have been in the system for a decade and sometimes even less, Okyeame Kwame deserves his flowers and, of course, bragging rights of a height many of his compatriots couldn’t reach.

What makes Okyeame Kwame’s history and journey with the most prestigious awards scheme on Ghana’s entertainment calendar inspiring is that the defunct Akyeame, which was made up of now Quophi Okyeame and himself (Okyeame Kwame), won Hiplife Song of the Year and Group of the Year awards at the maiden edition in 1999/2000.

And after 25 years, he is still in a favourable spot to win the Hiplife Song of the Year award again. Very commendable, yes or no? Well, Okyeame Kwame describes it as a great feeling.

 Strategy

In an interview with Daily Graphic, Okyeame Kwame, real name Kwame Nsiah-Apau, expressed lots of appreciation that his works are still held in high esteem after many years. 

He describes himself as a vessel through music and art to impact lives. For the Woso hit-maker, music is his passion.

“I’ve had many music researchers interview me on the strategies that are working for me to stay relevant, and the first on my list has always been that I can’t live without music. That’s my life. 

source: graphic online