Kofi Kinaata

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, once quoted a line from Kofi Kinaata's "Susuka" while addressing the Ghana Bar Association in Kumasi. Few rappers who write mainly in Fante get cited by a king to a room full of lawyers.

Early life

He was born Martin King Arthur on 15 April 1990 and grew up at Effiakuma in Takoradi. He attended Nana Brempong Yaw School and Takoradi Technical Institute. In 2009 he finished second in a rap competition on Melody FM, and his first single, "Obi Ne Ba", came out in 2011.

Career

In 2013 he signed a five-year deal with Samini's High Grade Family and had hits with "Oh Azaay" (2014), "Susuka" and "Made in Taadi" (2015), "Confession" (2016), "Single and Free" (2018) and "Things Fall Apart" (2019). He left the label in 2018 and now releases music through his own Team Move Music. Later work includes "Never Again" with Shatta Wale, "Effiakuma Love" (2023), "Sika" with Okyeame Kwame (2024), the EP Kofi OO Kofi (May 2024) and "Have Mercy 2" (December 2025). His annual Christmas concert, Made in Taadi, has been cancelled more than once, including in 2020 because of COVID-19.

Awards and ambassador roles

He won Songwriter of the Year and Best New Artiste at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards and went on to win the songwriting award three years in a row. In 2020 he became the first artist to win Hybrid Song of the Year at the Ghana Gospel Music Awards. He has been a goodwill ambassador for the UN's International Organization for Migration and a brand ambassador for Enterprise Life, alongside Diana Hamilton, and Good Day energy drink.