Bogo Blay

Bogo Blay is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter from Goaso. He rose to prominence after winning the Vodafone Icons Rep Ur Hood competition in 2018 and is known for songs such as "Jango", "Street", "Zoom" and the anti-drug song "Medicine".

Early life

He was born in Goaso, in what was then the Brong Ahafo Region and is now the Ahafo Region, and grew up in Goaso Zongo. Afroyard gives his real name as Bogo Blay Labran David, while Graphic Showbiz has written it as David Dabran. He has said music came to him late: "I was almost an adult when music came to me."

Career

After his 2018 Vodafone Icons win, his intro track "Jango" drew attention, and he followed it with songs including "Street (Mawea Mawe)", "Zoom", "Serwaa", "Grateful", "Antoa" and "Blessed". His song "Medicine" went viral on TikTok and was later used by the Food and Drugs Authority in a campaign against drug abuse. In 2023 he released his debut album, Wailing Monster, and he was part of "Esther", DJ Carcious's song featuring Medikal, which won DJ/Artist Collaboration of the Year at the Ghana DJ Awards.

His later releases include "Psalm 151" (2024), "Mr Paul", "Woman" and "Don't Leave Me" with EL (2025). In September 2025 he performed alongside Shatta Wale and Kweku Smoke at the President's Cup match between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium, which he called his greatest achievement.

2026

In September 2026 he released "Achi Guda", his first full Hausa-language song, named after a meat seller's nickname he heard as a child; the phrase means "one bite". On 19 October 2026 he released "Amazing" featuring Prince Bright. In an interview published on 30 October 2026 he argued that Ghana's music scene "hasn't been quiet this year" and called for more industry-organised shows instead of artistes staging their own concerts. He promised a new song before Christmas.