Kwabena Kwabena
{{Short description|Ghanaian musical artist}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kwabena Kwabena
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|10|17|df=y}}
| birth_name = George Kwabena Adu (christened)
| birth_place = Bubuashie, Ghana
| occupation = Musician, producer, draftsman, instrumentalist
}}
George Kwabena Adu (born 17 October 1978) is a Ghanaian musician, guitarist, and an accomplished construction technician. His name, Kwabena Kwabena depicts the two vocations he is presently in, first as Kwabena, the draftsman, and Kwabena, the contemporary highlife musician.{{Cite web|url=http://people.peacefmonline.com/pages/musicians/kwabena_kwabena/biography/|title=Kwabena Kwabena Biography {{!}} Profile {{!}} Ghana|website=people.peacefmonline.com|access-date=2018-04-23|archive-date=2018-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503043948/http://people.peacefmonline.com/pages/musicians/kwabena_kwabena/biography/|url-status=dead}}
He emerged after featuring on Kontihene's 2004 hit, Esi and he featured Kontihene on his own debut hit, Aso.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/audio/Aso-Kwabena-Kwabena-193216|title = Aso - Kwabena Kwabena|date = 30 November 2009}}
Early life
For basic school, Kwabena attended Datus Complex in Bubuashie, Green Hill School in Achimota, and Aggrey Junior Secondary School. He further proceeded to St. Peters Secondary School in Nkwatia for secondary education.
He started playing the guitar in church at the age of 14 and he also led the church choir.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=285|title=Kwabena Kwabena, Contemporary Highlife Artist|website=www.ghanaweb.com|access-date=2018-04-23}} He then started hanging around Hush Hush studios featuring on various songs. He got introduced to Hammer of the Last 2.{{Cite news|url=https://profileability.com/kwabena-kwabena/|title=Kwabena Kwabena {{!}} ProfileAbility|work=ProfileAbility|access-date=2018-04-23}}
Career
His break through came in 2004 when he recorded his debut album ASO. Three of the songs were used in the soundtrack of Sparrow Productions's The Perfect Picture. Some of his hits include Ka kyere me, Trodom, Adea waye me, Fakye me, and Me ne woa. In 2007, he released his second album, Dabi.{{Cite web |title=Kwabena Kwabena out with ‘Dabi’ |url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/5826/kwabena-kwabena-out-with-dabi.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}} Kwabena Kwabena has a strong passion for philanthropic work and believes in his Ghanaian environment. This passion spurred him on to set up the KwabenaKwabena Save A Life Foundation.{{Cite web|url=https://starrfmonline.com/2017/06/kwabena-kwabena-to-launch-biography-past-days-ahead-june-23/|title=Kwabena Kwabena to launch biography – 'Past Days Ahead' – June 23 {{!}} Starr Fm|last=Mensah|first=Kent|access-date=2019-03-23|archive-date=2019-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323084245/https://starrfmonline.com/2017/06/kwabena-kwabena-to-launch-biography-past-days-ahead-june-23/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanamusic.com/news/top-stories/2017/06/11/kwabena-kwabena-launch-new-book-past-days-ahead-june-23/|title=Kwabena Kwabena to launch new book 'Past Days Ahead' on June 23|last1=Mensah|first1=Nii Atakora|last2=Music|first2=Ghana|date=2017-06-11|website=Ghana Music|access-date=2019-03-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/43520/kwabena-kwabena-to-launch-new-book-past-days-ahead.html|title=Kwabena Kwabena To Launch New Book 'Past Days Ahead'|date=2017-06-06|website=Modern Ghana|access-date=2019-03-23}} Kwabena went on to achieve a number of local and international awards some of which include, the best vocal performance and the best songwriter.
His third album, Daakye, came out in 2013 which also had hit songs like Bue Kwan,Kwabena Kwabena – Bue kwan Adult Music,{{Cite web|url=http://track10.net/downloads/11/kwabena-kwabena-ft-samini-adult-music|title=Kwabena Kwabena ft. Samini - Kwabena Kwabena Ft Samini - Adult Music.mp3 Download|last=Track10|website=track10.net|access-date=2018-04-23|archive-date=2017-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127143657/http://track10.net/downloads/11/kwabena-kwabena-ft-samini-adult-music|url-status=dead}} Bye Bye, etc.
During an interview in 2023, he indicated he had returned to school to pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-02 |title=Kwabena Kwabena reveals why he has decided to get a degree at age 44 |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Kwabena-Kwabena-reveals-why-he-has-decided-to-get-a-degree-at-age-44-1742117 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}
Personal life and controversies
= Sexuality =
Kwabena Kwabena's fashion statements came under criticism with many alleging he was gay. He has since refuted all claims about his sexuality mentioning on different occasions that his unique sense of style has nothing to do with his sexuality.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-23 |title=I will marry again for the third time – Kwabena Kwabena discloses |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/I-will-marry-again-for-the-third-time-Kwabena-Kwabena-discloses-1407964 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-10 |title=My fashion sense has nothing to do with my sexuality - Kwabena Kwabena |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/My-fashion-sense-has-nothing-to-do-with-my-sexuality-Kwabena-Kwabena-1283425 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-05-25 |title=Painting my nails doesn’t make me gay – Kwabena Kwabena debunks rumours |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Painting-my-nails-doesn-t-make-me-gay-Kwabena-Kwabena-debunks-rumours-1270051 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=I’m not gay; sexuality is not something you learn – Kwabena Kwabena |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/im-not-gay-sexuality-is-not-something-you-learn-kwabena-kwabena |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en}}
In 2021, he discouraged Ghanaians from abusing gays, lesbians and queer individuals because their human rights need to be respected. He also mentioned that God loved everyone hence the need to spread that love to everyone.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-26 |title=God loves homosexuals – Kwabena Kwabena tells haters |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/God-loves-homosexuals-Kwabena-Kwabena-tells-haters-1190788 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}
Vitamilk Love Night With Kwabena Kwabena
Love Night with Kwabena Kwabena is an annual event that was introduced in 2014 and hosted at the Grand Arena which takes place every 14th February. The event showcases Kwabena's music and live performances celebrating love.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-27 |title=Kwabena Kwabena Prepares for Valentine's Day Celebration with Love Night - 3Music.tv |url=https://www.3music.tv/section/news/article/kwabena-kwabenas-prepares-for-valentines-day-celebration-with-love-night-2025-01-27 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=3MusicTV |language=en}}
On the 10th of February,2017, Vitamilk Love Night with Kwabena Kwabena took place at the National Theatre, other Ghanaian musicians like M.anifest, EL, Okyeame Kwame, Efya, Samini were present. The musician rewarded the best couple for that night.{{Cite web |last=Kasapa |date=2017-02-06 |title=Kwabena Kwabena to reward best couples at ‘Vitamilk Love Night’ concert Feb 10 - Kasapa102.5FM |url=https://kasapafmonline.com/?p=90942 |access-date=2025-02-18 |language=en-US}} The 2024 edition took place at the Grand Arena, the event saw couples, lovers, friends, and music enthusiasts who came together with performances from Ghanaian vocalists like vocalists Kobby Wutah, Efya, and Becca.{{Cite web |last=Vitamilkgh |date=2024-02-26 |title=Vitamilk Love Night with Kwabena Kwabena and Becca |url=https://www.vitamilk.com.gh/2024/02/26/vitamilk-love-night-with-kwabena-kwabena-and-becca/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Vitamilk Ghana |language=en-US}}
Ghanaian radio/TV personality and events MC Kpekpo Maxwell Justice (KMJ) hosted the 2025 edition of Kwabena Kwabena's Vitamilk Love Night at the Grand Arena.{{Cite web |title=Joy Prime's KMJ to host Kwabena Kwabena’s Vitamilk Love Night - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/joy-primes-kmj-to-host-kwabena-kwabenas-vitamilk-love-night/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}} The night saw performances from KiDi, Olivetheboy, Epixode, Pray3 among other young artistes like Verzes, Ceedi3gh which were coordinated by Image Bureau . On stage, Kwabena performed songs like Adult Music, Fakye, Afraid to Lose You, Siwagedem, Obaa, Aso, Royal Lady, Meye. {{Cite web |title=Check out artistes billed for Kwabena Kwabena's Vitamilk Love Night - MyJoyOnline |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/check-out-artistes-billed-for-kwabena-kwabenas-vitamilk-love-night/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{facebook|kwabenalive1}} (official)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwabena Kwabena}}
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:St. Peter's Boys Senior High School alumni