We come back home heading towards Ghana – another West African country on the #AOTW today. We got one of Ghana’s finest ever rappers M.anifest to dominate our playlist . Call him “Ghana’s rapper supreme” well known for collaborations with mainstream artists home and abroad. M.anifest/M.ani has worked with reputable international, African and Nigeria music stars such as Tony Allen, Damon Albarn, Flea (Red hot Chili Peppers), Erykah Badu, Femi Kuti, Olamide, Dammy Krane among others. He was privy to a breadth of African music with influence from his grandfather- a living legend he was named after. He has been doing music for close to a decade and half. He’s got more than four (4) fantastic albums with singles out already!
That’s a wawu! Award-winning Ghanaian rapper M.anifest is also known as an MC. He is a successful singer of both African and international repute. M.anifest was born Kwame Amet Tsikata on November 20, 1982 (36) in Accra, Ghana. He grew up in the Madina suburb of Accra to the North of the city in the Greater Accra Region. In 2001 M.anifest relocated to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul) in the United States to attend college (on scholarship). He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He literally spent about a decade of his adult life in USA where he started collaborations with some basement (underground) artists before he finally released his debut album ‘Manifestations’ in 2007.
The album earned him Songwriter of the Year honours at the City Pages Awards in US and attracted more international attention. In 2009 he released ‘The Birds and the Beats’. Towards the end of 2011 he toured Europe. He was actually invited to be a collaborator on a musical project.
NO 4 “Suffer,” “Asa,” and “Blue (Chale What Dey Happen)
In 2009 he released ‘The Birds and the Beats’. Towards the end of 2011 he toured Europe. He was actually invited to be a collaborator on a musical project. His Europe tour gave birth to his sophomore (2nd) album, ‘Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America’ in 2011. The album marked a decade of his life in the U.S. and the beginning of his transition back to Ghana. It also earned him nominations for Best Rapper and Songwriter of the Year at the 2012 Ghana Music Awards as well as receiving top 10 albums of the year honors in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In 2012 also M.anifest also toured UK; the same year he performed on the ‘Big Brother Africa Stargame’ stage; a show telecast live to millions across the African continent.
Later in December 2013, he released ‘Apae: the Price of Free’ EP, featuring tracks like ‘Someway Bi’ and ‘No Shortcut to Heaven’. In 2014 he collaborated with South African rapper HHP on ‘Jigah’. In 2016, he dropped the album ‘Nowhere Cool’On 30th June 2016, M.anifest released “god MC” an award winning diss track targeted at rapper Sarkodie sort of challenging Sarkodie to reply with another diss track. Funny right!
No 3: Be my woman feat M.I Casa (2017)
No 2: M.anifest – ‘Fine Fine’ ft Olamide (released October 2018)
After a decade, M.anifest journeyed back home with a wealth of experience and begun buzzing in Africa whiles still making giant steps internationally. M.anifest’s originality, lyricism, flow and depth in content has made him one of contemporary Africa’s best kept secrets. He was described as “Ghana’s rapper supreme” by Rita Ray of the BBC
As at 2012, M.anifest was reported to have relocated to his hometown Accra, Ghana where he continues to make music that incorporates the culture of Africa while he continues to visit the US to host cultural readings, discussions, and concert
M.anifest has always had musical inspiration surrounding him. Mentally, living in Minneapolis helped get M.anifest’s career started but it also allowed the artist to appreciate his hometown. He’s adept at fusing his western experiences in lyrics and themes.
Discography: Manifestations (2007), The Birds and the Beats (Free Mixtape, 2009), Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America (2011), Apae: the price of free EP (2013, Nowhere Cool (2016)
Award: Songwriter of the Year (2008) – City Pages. Minnesota Emerging composer Award (MECA) (2010) – American Composers Forum. Best Hip-Hop Video – 4syte Music Video Awards. Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2013) – Ghana Music Awards. Best Rapper of the year (2013) – Ghana Music Award. Best Special Effects Video (2016) – 4syte Music Video Awards. Best Individual Style (2016) – Glitz Style Awards. Hip-Hop song of the year (2017) – Ghana Music Awards. Best Rapper of the Year (2017)- Ghana Music Awards. Midem Best Artist (2017)- International Midem Awards, France.
Wrap Up
No 1 Makaa Maka’ ( music video for the single was nominated for six 4syte TV Music Video Awards in Ghana and won in the Best Hip-Hop category in 2012)
