TRUE Africa

Okyeame Kwame on how young talent can break into the music industry

Team TRUE

Okyeame Kwame, who calls himself ‘the best rapper alive’ will be talking at the IMPACT Music Conference in Accra, Ghana, on April 26 and 27. Young people keen to break into the music industry are welcome to go for free.

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Here the musician, songwriter, creative director, entrepreneur and multiple Ghana Music Awards winner, tells us why it’s important to encourage young talent and his favourite inspirational women musicians.

Why do you think it’s important to support events like IMPACT?

I believe in the concept of impartation, the sharing of experiences and cross generational learning. I have been an artiste for 20 years and I believe that if I don’t share my experiences, younger artistes will repeat my mistakes.

I also get the opportunity to learn from these young participants. They ask thought-provoking questions.

What advice would you give to young women in music?

Young women in the arts are faced with a common challenge: the perception that a female artiste is a slut. There is the notion that they must have sexual relations with producers, managers to get to succeed. This ideology in a conservative environment like ours has the ability to place the women on the low side, reducing their social mobility.

I will advise aspiring women musicians to take note of this and set themselves free to be able to do what they desire. They should freely express themselves and create the refreshing content they want to. They should empower themselves to win in the midst of the competition.

What would you do if you were a woman for the day?

If I were a woman for one day, I will take advantage of the opportunities that exist for their favour.

For example, being able to use beauty and radiance to charm people to get what we want. I will drum into the ears of other women, these advantages to empower them for exploits.

Favourite inspirational women musicians?

Angélique Kidjo
Stephanie Benson
MzVee
Miriam Makeba
Asabea Cropper
Asa
Yvonne Chaka Chaka

What’s next for the Rap Doctor?

What’s next for me is for God to say. I don’t know. It’s purely in the hands of God. However whatever I’m doing already are the Hepatitis advocacy, decency in music advocacy, World Reader.

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I am always bent on doing all these things well.

I plan on releasing my book before the end of the Year, my African Connection album, to take my music beyond the shores of Africa and to produce such great music that will make great impacts.

Find out more about the IMPACT Music Conference