Okyeame Kwame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Okyeame Kwame
Okyeame Kwame at the 2025 Ghana Music Awards
Background information
Birth name	Kwame Nsiah-Apau
Also known as	Okyeame Kwame, Rap Doctor
Born	(1976-04-17) 17 April 1976 (age 49) Kumasi, Ghana
Genres	Hiplife hip-hop Afropop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actor
Years active	1997–present
Associated acts	Asumadu Ebony Reigns Kwaw Kese Stephanie Benson Amerado Kwabena Kwabena Deborah Vanessa Daddy Lumba Kojo Antwi Ofori Amponsah

Kwame Nsiah-Apau, born on April 17, 1976, is a famous Ghanaian musician. He is known by his stage name Okyeame Kwame and is also called the "Rap Doctor." Okyeame Kwame is not just a singer and songwriter; he is also a creative director, a fashion icon, and someone who works to help his community. Because he is both an artist and an activist, people call him an "artivist."

Okyeame Kwame's Journey

Early Life and Education

Okyeame Kwame grew up in Kumasi, Ghana. He is the third of six children. His two younger brothers, Kwaku Nsiah Boamah (Flowking Stone) and Kwaku Nsiah Amankwah (Kunta Kinte), are also musicians. They perform together as a group called "Bradez."

When Kwame was young, his parents hoped he would become a doctor. However, he became very interested in rap music. He started writing his own songs and performing at local shows when he was in Anglican Senior High School.

Kwame faced challenges in primary school because he had dyslexia. This made reading and writing difficult for him. Because of his own experiences, he now works to help schools in Ghana include support for students with dyslexia.

Higher Education

Okyeame Kwame attended Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. There, he studied Akan, a Ghanaian language, and Sociology. He also received formal music training from Dr. Daniel Amponsah, also known as Agya Koo Nimo. Agya Koo Nimo taught him how to play the classical guitar and shared his knowledge of African music philosophy.

Later, Kwame went to the University of Ghana. In 2016, he earned a master's degree in Strategic Marketing. He is also recognized by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana for his excellent use of marketing in the arts.

In March 2024, Kwame and his wife, Annica Nsia-Apau, earned professional Master’s degrees in Alternative Dispute Resolution. They studied at the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies (IPSL). This was Kwame's second master's degree.

Music Career Highlights

In 1997, Okyeame Kwame became well-known as part of the "Akyeame" hiplife duo. He performed with Daniel Kofi Amoateng, who was known as Okyeame Kofi. They released several albums together, including "Nyansapo" (1997), "Nkonsonkonson" (1998), "Ntoaso" (2000), and "Apam Foforo" (2002).

After the duo separated in 2004, Okyeame Kwame started his solo career. He released music under his own record label, "One Mic Entertainment." He has also worked with famous Ghanaian artists like Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi, and Ofori Amponsah.

In 2009, Okyeame Kwame won the Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year. After this, he called himself B.R.A (Best Rapper Alive) in a song. This led to a friendly rivalry with another Ghanaian rapper, Obrafour. Obrafour felt he deserved the title more. The two artists had a memorable disagreement in the Ghanaian music scene. Obrafour even challenged Okyeame Kwame to a rap battle, but it never happened. In 2011, Obrafour apologized. Okyeame Kwame later explained that he did not accept the challenge because winning Artist of the Year was enough proof of his talent.

Okyeame Kwame's rap lyrics often teach lessons, raise awareness about social issues, and include poetry. These lyrics are even studied in some Ghanaian universities. He believes that researchers should be involved in the music industry to provide expert ideas and information.

Okyeame Kwame's Style

Most of Okyeame Kwame's raps and songs are in the Twi dialect, which is part of Ghana's Akan language. However, he also performs songs in English. His stage name, Okyeame, means "linguist of the royal court" in Akan. This name shows how skilled he is with words.

He is also known as "Mr. Versatile" because he can perform many different music styles. These include hip-hop, reggae, highlife, R&B, and jazz.

Special Music Events

Besides his regular music performances, Okyeame Kwame created "The Versatile Show" in 2012. This show is performed twice a year at the National Theatre. It combines poetry, drama, and music.

In 2016, Kwame and his wife started an event called "Flaunt Your Lover." This event gives couples a chance to celebrate their love together.

Other Activities

Since 2019, Okyeame Kwame has organized the Hiplife Party every year. This event helps people remember the good old days of hiplife music and keeps its history alive. In 2016, he also started "Ok Stripped." This event raises money for the Ghana Paralympic Team and supports his program to vaccinate people against hepatitis B.

Business Ventures

Okyeame Kwame runs his own record label called OK Music. This label used to be known as One Mic Entertainment and also included Firm Bridges Communications. His label has helped produce and manage many Ghanaian artists, including Morris Devoice, Rex Omar, Bradez, and Ben Brako.

He is also a partner in Horseman Shoes, a company that makes shoes. Additionally, he is a partner in Sante's Hair for Kids, a business that creates local hair products for children. His daughter is the brand ambassador for this company.

In May 2021, Okyeame Kwame and his wife launched two books. These books, "Finding a lasting love relationship" and "Maintaining a lasting love relationship," are part of their Love Locked Down series. They are guidebooks to help people have healthy relationships.

In 2023, Kwame launched his own line of boxer shorts called Love Equation. He also runs a travel and tour company called OK World Travel and Tour. This company helps Ghanaians find job opportunities abroad. It also helps Africans living outside Ghana visit their home country. They can explore Ghana, reconnect with their heritage, find investment opportunities, and experience the rich culture.

Promoting Tourism

In 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture gave Kwame a national award. This was to recognize his efforts in promoting tourism. In 2019, he released his "Made in Ghana" album, which he created with the Ghana Tourism Authority. This project aimed to make Ghanaians proud of their country and encourage tourism.

He has also worked with Adansi Travel and Tour to improve local and international tours, especially for families.

On his 47th birthday in 2023, Kwame launched his "Love Equation" boxer shorts label.

Working with Companies and Organizations

Okyeame Kwame is a well-known figure in Ghana, so many companies and organizations want to work with him. He has been a brand ambassador for companies like MTN Group, GT Bank, and Coca-Cola in Ghana.

He also served as the public relations officer for the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) from 2012 to 2013. In 2014, he became part of the Ghana Music Right Owner (GHAMRO).

In 2015, the African Union chose Kwame to be an ambassador for their "My African Union, My Voice" campaign. This campaign helps people learn about the African Union's goals and encourages them to participate in their country's decisions.

In the same year, he became an ambassador for the Junior Boys Mentoring Conference. This non-governmental organization in Accra helps young boys gain the skills and knowledge they need to face challenges in the world.

Kwame has also worked with MDS Lancet Laboratories on his Hepatitis B project. Through this project, he has helped vaccinate over 10,000 Ghanaians. The goal is to raise awareness about Hepatitis B, which is common in Ghana.

To help more Ghanaians understand the importance of insurance, Kwame was appointed an ambassador for the "GET INSURED CAMPAIGN" project. His role is to encourage people to get insurance, especially to protect themselves during difficult times.

In 2020, the Ghana Education Service appointed him as an Ambassador for Technical and Vocational Training (TVET). He works to promote TVET among Ghanaians. He shares this role with other important figures in Ghana, including Ghana's First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

In 2021, Climate Clock, a global climate initiative, named Kwame a Climate Ambassador. He works to highlight the urgent need for climate action, using the climate clock to show how much time is left to address climate change.

In 2022, Kwame became the brand ambassador for Waylead Ghana Company Limited. He was also appointed an ambassador by Water Aid for their Hygiene Behaviour Change Coalition (HBCC) as part of the COVID-19 Control initiative.

In 2024, Kwame was named an ambassador for the Earthshot Prize. This environmental project, inspired by the U.S. "Moonshot" project, aims to find and reward new solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems.

Music Releases

Kwame released his first solo album, "Boshe Ba" (Promised Child), in 2004, after the Akyeame band broke up. In 2008, he released "Manwesem" (My Poetry), and in 2011, "The Clinic." In 2012, he launched "The Versatile Show" (also known as "Konfanko").

In 2020, he collaborated with Jamaican dancehall artist Sizzla Kalonji on a song called Come Home. This song encourages Africans living abroad to always remember to return to their homeland.

Film and Television Work

Okyeame Kwame has helped find new African talents by being a judge on music reality shows in Ghana. He has also acted in Ghanaian films such as Ties That Bind, The Comforter, and Amsterdam Diary.

Family Life

Kwame has been married to Annica Nsiah-Apau since 2009. They have two children named Sir Kwame Bota and Sante Antwiwaa. As mentioned earlier, his two younger brothers, Flowking Stone and Kunta Kinte, are also rappers and are known as Bradez. Okyeame Kwame has one sister.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

In 2009, Okyeame Kwame started the Okyeame Kwame Foundation. This foundation works to raise awareness about hepatitis B in Ghana. It provides free screenings, prevention information, and education to help reduce the disease. The foundation is supported by MTN Ghana and MDS-Lancet Laboratories.

They hold regular screening and vaccination events across Ghana, where hundreds of people receive free vaccines. In 2014, he organized the Celebrity Car Wash event to raise money for his campaign. This event included sports, games, and photo opportunities with celebrities. The foundation has also helped build a hepatitis B treatment center in Tamale.

Because of his work in raising money for free screenings for people in need, Kwame has been appointed the Hepatitis B Ambassador for the Ghana Health Service.

After becoming a Climate Ambassador for Climate Clock, Kwame started a project to train 2000 Climate Champions from schools. The goal is to teach children about climate change, as they will be most affected by environmental changes. The Climate Clock helps explain climate change to these students. They also plant trees and promise to protect them. This promise is then passed on to others, encouraging people to not just plant trees but to make sure they grow and help the climate.

Awards and Recognition

Okyeame Kwame has received many awards and honors for his music and his work in the community.

• On November 21, 2016, the Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, gave Okyeame Kwame a Key to the City. The Mayor also declared November 17 each year as ‘Okyeame Kwame Day’ to honor him as an International Cultural Ambassador to the city.
• On February 3, 2017, the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana recognized him for his excellent use of marketing in the creative arts.
• At the 2017 Ghana Music Honours, he won the best video award for his song "Small Small," which features MzVee.
• He also received a United States Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This award is usually given to Americans, but Okyeame Kwame received it as a "Kingdom Humanitarian Award" for his great work in fighting hepatitis B.
• In April 2017, at the People's Choice Practitioners Awards, he received the ‘Outstanding Health Ambassador’ honor from the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
• Also in 2017, Okyeame Kwame joined famous people like David Beckham and Hugh Jackman as UNICEF Super Dad Ambassadors. He was chosen because of his wonderful relationship with his children, which has been widely recognized.
• In 2024, Okyeame Kwame attended the Earthshot Prize Awards in South Africa. He proudly wore the Ghanaian traditional cloth, ‘Kente,’ to the event.

Community Projects

Okyeame Kwame is dedicated to making Africa a better place. He was recently named the Climate Change Ambassador for the Ghana Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM). This is a project by Solidaridad, an international organization that helps create fair and environmentally friendly supply chains. His role is to speak out for positive change to reduce the impact of climate change in Africa. Okyeame Kwame and the DGM Project have visited many farming communities in Ghana. They use Kwame's fame to bring people together and discuss climate-smart farming and good land use practices.

His Okyeame Kwame Foundation has been working on a Hepatitis B vaccination project since 2009. This project aims to end the problem of Hepatitis B in Ghana. So far, the foundation has screened over 10,000 people and given free vaccinations to about 5,000 more.

His latest album, "Made in Ghana," features some of Ghana's most popular artists like Kidi and Kwami Eugene. This album encourages Ghanaians to be proud of their identity and to buy goods made in Ghana. Kwame's unique dress style, which is often inspired by his Asante culture, has influenced many young people in Ghana to wear African prints. After the "Made in Ghana" album was launched, the Ministry of Trade and Industry appointed Kwame as an Ambassador for their ‘Made in Ghana’ campaign. Kwame also worked with the Tourism Ministry to encourage Ghanaians to buy Made in Ghana goods and services.

He is also a board member of World Reader, a non-profit organization that provides e-books to people in developing countries. This organization uses e-readers, mobile phones, and other digital technology to give people access to a digital library of over 45,000 books in 53 countries. They also build solar panels in areas without electricity so people can read digital books.

He was recently appointed an ENABLE Ambassador, working with the World Bank, Solidaridad, REDD+, the Forestry Commission, and Tropenbos. The Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) project in Ghana helps communities that might be left out of the benefits from carbon reduction programs. Under the REDD+ project, about 50 million dollars will be generated in communities that use land in a sustainable way to increase carbon in cocoa farms.

After becoming an Ambassador for the Earthshot Prize, he attended the 2024 Earthshot Prize ceremony in South Africa. There, he met with Prince William. The awards celebrate people who offer new solutions for climate and environmental issues.

Awards and Nominations