Okyeame Kwame

Kwame Nsiah-Apau (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Okyeame Kwame and nicknamed Rap Doctor, is a Ghanaian musician, songwriter, creative director and a Developmental Activist.

His dual roles as an artist and an activist have led to his recognition as an "artivist."

Apau was born in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana.

He is the third of six siblings.

His two younger brothers, Kwaku Nsiah Boamah nicknamed "Flowking Stone" and Kwaku Nsiah Amankwah nicknamed "Kunta Kinte", also perform as a duo, under the brand name "Bradez".

Growing up, Kwame's parents expected him to become a physician, yet he gained interest in rap music from a very young age, when he wrote his own songs and performed at local shows since his days at the Anglican Senior High School in Kumasi.

His Primary education was difficult because he suffered from dyslexia, which posed challenges for him in learning, particularly in the areas of reading and writing.

Based on his childhood experiences, he has been actively promoting the inclusion of dyslexia management in the school curriculum in Ghana.

Kwame is a product of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where he studied Akan and Sociology for his first degree with formal education in music under the tutelage of Dr Daniel Amponsah a.k.a. Agya Koo Nimo.

Agya Koo Nimo taught him Classical Guitar and Philosophy in African Music.

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 a solo under his own record label "One Mic Entertainment", since they parted in 2004.

He also featured some renowned Ghanaian highlife and hiplife artists like Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi and Ofori Amponsah.

For declaring himself B.R.A (Best Rapper Alive) in a song he recorded after winning Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year award in 2009, Okyeame Kwame sparked a conflict with fellow Ghanaian rapper Obrafour, who saw himself more deserving.

This resulted in one of the most memorable feuds the Ghanaian music scene has seen, with Obrafour challenging Okyeame Kwame to a rap battle on the streets which was never honored.

In 2011, after Obrafour had apologized for his actions, Okyeame Kwame explained he declined Obrafour's challenge because there was no need for it at the time, as winning Artist of the Year was vindictive enough.

Okyeame Kwame has made significant contributions to education and scholarship promotion.

His rap lyrics (which incorporate didactic themes, social consciousness and poetry) are being studied in some Ghanaian universities.

He is an advocate for the incorporation of researchers into the music industry to provide expert perspectives and data within the field.

Most of Okyeame Kwame's raps and songs are performed in the Twi dialect of Ghana's Akan language.

However, due to his diversity, he also performs songs in English.

His stage name Okyeame chosen to reflect his lyrical fluidity means "linguist (of the royal court)" in his native Akan.

His ability to also perform other music genres, including hip-hop, reggae, highlife, R&B, jazz, and others, has garnered him the title "Mr. Versatile."

Aside from musical performances, Kwame launched "The Versatile Show" in 2012, produced by himself and performed biannually at the National Theatre.

He incorporates poetry, drama, and music in this theatrical production.

Subsequently, he enrolled at the University of Ghana and graduated in 2016 with a master's degree in Strategic Marketing.

He is also an associate co-opted member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana in recognition of his professional use of marketing in creative arts.

In 2016, Kwame and his wife initiated another event called "Flaunt Your Lover."

The purpose of this event was to provide a platform for couples to come together and celebrate love.

Additionally, Ok Stripped was initiated in 2016 as a fundraising initiative for the Ghana Paralympic Team and to support his hepatitis B vaccination program.

Kwame runs his own record label, OK Music previously One Mic Entertainment and the defunct Firm Bridges Communications, co-founded with his wife,.

The record label has overseen the production and management of artists such as Morris Devoice, Rex Omar, Bradez, Tattoo, Ben Brako, Kofi B, and other music talents in Ghana.

He is also partner in the shoe manufacturing company Horseman Shoes plus a partner to Sante's Hair for Kids, a hairline business that produces local hair products for kids with his daughter as the Brand Ambassador.

In May 2021, Okyeame Kwame and his wife launched two books, Finding a lasting love relationship and maintaining a lasting love relationship under the Love Locked Down series. which are both guide books to healthy relationships.

In 2023, Kwame was bestowed with a national award by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture for his contributions to the tourism industry.

From 2019 to the present, Okyeame has been organizing the Hiplife Party, an annual event with the objective of evoking nostalgia and preserving the hiplife heritage.

His "Made in Ghana" album, a collaborative effort with the Ghana Tourism Authority in 2019, was an initiative aimed at fostering a sense of nationalism and promoting tourism.

He has also collaborated with Adansi Travel and Tour, in a bid to enriching local and international tours, with a special focus on families.

On his 47th birthday in 2023, Kwame unveiled his merchandise boxer shorts label named Love Equation.