Akwaboah

Akwaboah, born Gladstorm Kwabena Akwaboah Jnr, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter, keyboardist and producer from Mampong Beposo in the Ashanti Region. He is the son of the highlife musician Kwadwo Akwaboah. He first made his name writing hits for other artists, then stepped out as a love-song specialist with records such as "Mewu" and "Posti Me".

A musician's son

He grew up around his father's music and began playing and writing as a young teenager. He went to Mampong Preparatory School and St. Hubert Seminary in Kumasi, and later studied at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is a skilled keyboardist, and has played for a number of local and international acts.

The songwriter behind the hits

His breakthrough came behind the scenes. He wrote "Daa Ke Daa" for Becca and "Ayeyi Ndwom" for the gospel singer DSP Kofi Sarpong, and both songs won awards for their singers at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards. The same night he was named Songwriter of the Year for "Daa Ke Daa". He has also co-written for Sarkodie, including on the album Mary.

Solo career

As a solo artist he was nominated for New Artiste of the Year at the 2014 Ghana Music Awards. In 2016, the year of "Mewu", his duet with Sarkodie, he was nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance and Collaboration of the Year. His album Matters of the Heart followed in 2018, then the Lighthouse EP in December 2021 and the Lighthouse album in 2023. "Posti Me" (2021) is one of his best-known songs, and he was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

He has kept up a steady flow of singles since, including "Transformer", "Obiaa", "Gangsta Love", "Same Same" and "Work Before You Marry". His music mixes highlife roots from his father with R&B and afropop, and he writes mostly about love and relationships.

Personal life

Akwaboah married Theresa Akwaboah in Accra on 3 May 2024.