Ghanaian rapper Okyeame Kwame has revealed that Burkina Faso’s Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, was the inspiration behind his eye-catching outfit at the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).
The musician turned heads in May when he arrived at the event dressed as an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, flanked by two women in similar royal attire.
Speaking on TV3’s Showbiz360, Okyeame Kwame explained that Traoré’s Pan-African values deeply influenced his choice.
“Ibrahim Traoré inspired it. He represents the new African who would rather die standing than live on his knees. He’s bringing back the wind of Pan-Africanism that was almost lost,” he said.
The rapper praised Traoré’s leadership as a symbol of African resilience and royalty, noting it reminded him of the continent’s historical contributions to civilization, science, and mathematics.
When asked whether his Pan-African advocacy might clash with his work with multinational brands, he responded that love now drives his actions more than truth.
“I’ve stopped chasing truth. Wherever there is truth, there are lies. I chase love. If something brings love into the world, I’m in, regardless of the consequences,” he said.
Okyeame Kwame has long been known for his artistic activism, and his 2025 TGMA appearance is now being seen as a bold expression of cultural pride and political symbolism.
