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Blakk Rasta

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Blakk Rasta
Birth nameAbubakar Ahmed
Also known asBlakk Rasta
Born (1974-09-02) 2 September 1974 (age 50)
Tamale, Ghana
GenresReggae
Occupation(s)Musician, Radio presenter

Blakk Rasta (born Abubakar Ahmed (born 2 September 1974) is a Ghanaian reggae / Kuchoko artiste, dub poet, an ordained Man of God and a radio presenter for Accra-based 3FM.[1][2][3][4][5] He is best known for the song "Barack Obama" sung in honor of the 44th U.S President. He was honored at a special dinner with President Obama on 11 July, 2010.[6]

Musical style

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Blakk Rasta does "Kuchoko" which is predominantly reggae music fused with African rhythms and energies pouring out conscious lyrics about love, equal rights and justice, blackness, rasta and spiritual love.

Blakk Rasta's current "Kuchoko" sound innovation came about after a long period of research into a new sound, which will ride on reggae music and establish a sound which will cut across indigenous African sights, sounds and spirituality and be accepted worldwide in these fast changing times of musical tastes and preferences.

Indigenous African instruments such as the xylophone, talking drum (dondo), kette, flute, kologo, kora fused with animal and jungle sounds, and sounds from local markets.

Career

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Abubakar Ahmed, aka Blakk Rasta who was born on September 2, 1974, in Tamale to devout Ahmadi-Moslem parents. Growing in the slums of Moshie-Zongo and Aboabo. Blakk Rasta is also a reggae DJ on radio. He was adjudged the best Reggae DJ in Ghana when he was on Happy 98.9 FM. The controversial former host of the midmorning program ‘Taxi Driver’ on Hitz 103.9 FM, revealed via his Twitter account on July 6, 2015 [7] that he has said his goodbyes to the Multimedia-owned Kokomlemle based radio station in Accra.[8] Blakk Rasta then joined Zylofon FM in 2017 to continue 'Taxi Driver'. After four years of working at Zylofon FM, Blakk Rasta Live on air (Wednesday 29 December 2021) announced that he will be leaving the East-legon based radio on Friday 31 December 2021. According to Blakk Rasta, his decision not to abandon the station in spite of financial challenges was purely out of loyalty to his boss, NAM1, who had tasked him to consider the station as his own baby.[9]

After leaving Zylofon FM he joined Class FM while he also manages his own YouTube channel called 'Blakk Media Empire',[10] to still continue his show 'The Black Pot'. Blakk Rasta is now with Media General's 3FM.[11]

Inspiration

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He was inspired by Jamaican dub poet; Mutabaruka, DYCR and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Honors and awards

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  • In June 2011, Blakk Rasta was voted and confirmed as the 'Radio Reggae Show Host of the Year' by the Ghana Radio And TV Awards.[12] He has won other awards such as the BASS Awards[13] in 2013, with a reggae song with Jah Amber titled "Our Africa".[14]
  • 2024: Blakk Rasta has submitted his Salaga Soljah album for a GRAMMY consideration [15]

Discography

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Selected singles

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  • "Dede"
  • "Barack Obama"[16]
  • "Gaddafi"
  • "Mallam Tonga"[17]
  • "Gaddafi, My Hero"
  • "52 Ambulances" (Knii Lante ft. Blakk Rasta, 2018)[18]
  • "Naked Wire" (2008)[19]
  • "Caro Caro (Corona Virus Lamentation)"[20]
  • Mpumalanga
  • "Camaroon"
  • "Piano Logoligi"[21]
  • "Bloody Museveni"[22]
  • Raggamuffin com
  • "Mr President" (2021)[23]
  • "Kwame Nkrumah"[24]

Albums

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  • 2000: The Rasta Shrine[25]
  • 2002: More Fyah[25]
  • 2004: Ganja Minister[25]
  • 2006: Natty Bongo[25]
  • 2008: Naked Wire[25]
  • 2010: Voice of the African Rebel[26]
  • 2011: Born Dread[27]
  • 2014: Ancestral Moonsplash[25]
  • 2016: Kuchoko Revolution[28]
  • 2019: Timbuktu By Road[29]
  • 2024: Salaga Soljah[30]

References

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  1. ^ "MPs must have a big heart and forgive Blakk Rasta – Baako". Ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. ^ "About Me | Blakk Rasta: Official Website". Blakkrasta.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Nsawan prison inmates thrilled by Blakk Rasta's concert". Stormfmonline.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Blakk Rasta Goes To Zylofon FM". Peacefmonoline.com. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Blakk Rasta (Ghana)- Music Time in Africa | Voice of America - English". Voanews.com. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Blakk Rasta meets Obama, again, on the BBC". MyJoyOnline.com. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  7. ^ "BLAKK RASTA". Twitter.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Confirmed: Blakk Rasta joining Zylofon FM". 17 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Blakk Rasta leaving Zylofon after 4 years". Ghanaweekend.com. 29 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Blakk Empire Media - YouTube" – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Ghana Live Radio: 3FM 92.7 ▶︎ Listen Now | 3News".
  12. ^ "Sefa Kayi Rules The Airwaves at RTP awards". Ghanaweb.com. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Blakk Rasta grateful for his 7 BASS Awards nominations". Ghanamotion.com. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Samini Bags In 4 Awards at 2013 BASS Awards + FULL Winners' List". Nydjlive.com. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Blakk Rasta pushes for Grammy with groundbreaking 'Salaga Soljah' album". 5 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Blakk Rasta's Obama "Theme Song" In Ghana". HuffPost. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Blakk Rasta Drops Monster Banger 'MALLAM TONGA'". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Listen Up: Knii Lante premieres "52 Ambulances" featuring Blakk Rasta". Yfmghana.com. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Rousing Launch for 'Naked Wire'". Ghanaweb.com. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  20. ^ "Blakk Rasta Laments Over 'CARO'". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Blakk Rasta serves fans with South African tune as he drops 'Piano Logoligi' - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline.com. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Blakk Rasta features Bobi Wine on 'Bloody Museveni' song". Ghanaweb.com. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Blakk Rasta - Thief President". 5 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ "Blakk Rasta - Kwame Nkrumah [Official Video]". 22 September 2015 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "Blakk Rasta's 'Ancestral Moonsplash' has arrived". MyJoyOnline.com. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Blakk Rasta, Asem perform at Face of Ghana Holland 2009 grand finale". MyJoyOnline.com. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Blakk Rasta sings about Libya and Barack Obama, readies Born Dread album". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Music Review: Blakk Rasta's Kuchoko Revolution". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Blakk Rasta launches 'Timbuktu by Road'". Ghanaweb.com. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  30. ^ "Blakk Rasta - Salaga Soljah". March 2024.
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