pass
Kwame Ametep Tshikata (born 20 November 1982) is a lyrical master from Ghana, popularly known as M.anifest, is a renowned musician, rapper and record producer. He won the prestigious Best Rapper and Hip Hop Song of the Year awards at the prestigious 2017 Ghana Music Awards.
He has collaborated with industry heavyweights such as Damon Albarn, Flea, Tony Allen and Erykah Badu to create some of the most impressive music of this era. Notably, M.anifest appears on five tracks on the Rocket Juice & the Moon album. He is also the grandson of the famous African ethnomusicologist and composer JH Kwabena Nketia.
BBC Radio’s The Strand named M.anifest one of the four artists to watch in 2012. Additionally, his song “Someway Bi” won third place in the 2015 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Even better, The Guardian named him “the best rapper on the African continent” that same year. He currently splits his time between the charming town of Medina, Ghana, and the equally charming city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Ghanaian musicians
appear |
|
|---|---|
 M.anifest: History, Biography, Photos |
|
| Wiki facts and figures | |
| Name: | Kwame Ametepe Tshikata |
| stage name: | appear |
| Date of Birth: | November 20, 1982 (41 years old) |
| place of birth: | Accra, Ghana |
| Country of Citizenship: | Ghana |
| high: | not applicable |
| parents: | Tsatsu Tsikata, Nana Nketia |
| Brothers and sisters: | not applicable |
| Wife • Spouse: | unmarried |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | not applicable |
| Children: | not applicable |
| Profession: | Rapper • Songwriter |
| net worth: | $5 million |
Early life and education
M.anifest was born in Accra, Ghana on November 20, 1982, into a noble family. His parents, Tsatsu Tsikata and Rev. Dr. Nana Nketia, were both experts, a Ghanaian lawyer and professor, and a lawyer and missionary respectively. His maternal grandfather, the famous Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia, was an ethnomusicologist, professor and composer.
In 2001, M.anifest immigrated to the United States and attended Macalester College in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and graduated in 2005. He completed high school at the SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International Academy in Tema, where he worked as an entertainment director under the stage name Amet Tsikata.
M.anifest’s talents have allowed him to participate in artist residency programs, teach at St. Lawrence University and the University of Ghana, and speak at prestigious institutions such as Hamline University, Macalester College, Pambula Theatre Summer Arts Institute, and Athesi University.
Profession
Ghanaian musician M.anifest learned the ropes of independent music production while living in the Twin Cities. His vocal talents were used in a Pepsi commercial jingle that received national airplay on American radio stations. This gave him the resources to produce and release his debut solo album, Manifestations, in 2007.
Popular publication City Pages named his debut record Songwriter of the Year, and Star Tribune named it one of the top five albums of the year. In 2009, M.anifest curated the free album Birds and Beats to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit African Youth Entrepreneurs.
In 2010, M.anifest teamed up with Africa Express, touring with the band in France and Spain. Damon Albarn, co-founder of Africa Express, noticed his talent and asked him to collaborate on Rocket Juice & the Moon the following year. In September 2012, he traveled to the UK with the Africa Express train. He spoke to The Huffington Post about his experience.
In 2011, M.anifest released his second album, Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America, which included the hits “Suffer,” “Asa,” and “Blue (Chale What Dey Happen).” The album marked the end of his ten-year residency in the United States and the beginning of his return to Ghana.
In 2012, he made major inroads in Africa, appearing on Big Brother Africa and competing in the Channel O Music Video Awards in South Africa. His music video “Makaa Maka” was nominated for Most Talented Hip-Hop Video at the 2012 Channel O Music Awards and won Best Hip-Hop Video at the local 4Syte Music Video Awards.
Additionally, M.anifest participated in the development and co-creation of Channel O’s independent mini hip-hop opera. He also performed a piece on the history of Ghanaian music at the inaugural Ghana Music Week. He co-founded Giant Steps, an interactive conference for creative and business entrepreneurs, and was involved in Justin Schell’s feature-length documentary, We Rock Long Distance.
Awards and nominations
- Songwriter of the Year (2008)
- Minnesota Emerging Composer Award (MECA) (2010)
- 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 Awards
- Best Special Effects Video (2016) 4syte Music Video Awards
- Best Personal Style Award (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) French International Midem Award
- Best African Hip-Hop Artist Award (AFRIMA 2018)
- He is hailed by fans as the greatest rapper of all time
Discography
Album
- Performance (2007)
- Birds and the Beat (Free Mixtape, 2009)
- Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America (2011)
- Apae: The Price of a Free EP (2013)
- Nowhere to be Cool (2016)
- Gambling EP (2019)
- From Medina to the Universe (2021)
singles
- Babylon Falls (2007)
- The Gentlemen (2007)
- Coming to America (2011)
- Suffering (2011)
- Asa and Efya Collaboration (2012)
- Maca Maca (2012)
- Blue (Chale What Dey Happen) (2012)
- Northern Hubei (2013)
- Mind Games (2013)
- Anyway (2013)
- Jigah and HHP Collaboration (2014)
- No Shortcuts to Heaven fe. Obrafour (2014)
- W’ani Aba (with Bisa Kdei)
- Forget the Democrats (2015)
- God MC (2016)
- 100% (2016)
- Sugar and Brymo Collaboration (2016)
- Do My Own with BigBen (2017)
- Me ne woa in collaboration with King Promise (2017)
Personal life
M.anifest is a talented and enigmatic rapper who has always been very secretive about his love life, leaving fans and the media alike speculating about his relationship status. Despite his public persona, he has maintained an impressive level of privacy when it comes to his personal affairs. This is a refreshing change in a world where every aspect of a celebrity’s life is often exposed to the public eye.
While we can’t confirm if M.anifest is currently in a relationship or has plans to settle down and start a family, we can only hope that he finds love and happiness in his personal life as much as he has success in his music career. As fans, we can respect his privacy and continue to support him as an artist without prying into his personal life or putting undue pressure on him to reveal more information than he’s comfortable sharing.
net worth
M.anifest’s successful career in the music industry has brought him considerable wealth, with some mainstream sources estimating his net worth to be over $5 million. While this figure has not been officially confirmed by the rapper, it reflects his achievements and efforts in the music industry over the years.
As an acclaimed musician, rapper, and record producer, M.anifest has made a tidy profit through music releases, collaborations, tours, and other business endeavors. Despite his staggering wealth, he remains humble and focused on his career, constantly striving to push boundaries and achieve great success.
