By Ayuureyisiya Kapini Atafori
Blakk Rasta (born Abubakar Ahmed) is one of the most prolific and Afro-conscious Ghanaian reggae musicians who has produced 10 albums and several singles.
Blakk Rasta is multi-talented. He is an award-winning reggae radio presenter, public historian, polyglot, poet and novelist.
In his music, deejaying and teachings, he has been consistently telling the hard-bitter truth to the powers-that-be and focusing on Pan-Africanism and Afrocentricity. That has won him a massive following in Ghana, and in the Black Diaspora.
But his advocacy for economic rights and justice for the masses has also courted the ire of the powerful and wealthy in society. Yet Blakk is least bothered with their shenanigans. Intelligent and elegant, Blakk is the voice of the voiceless. His life-long mission is to make Africa regain its past glory as the cradle of civilization.
A Land Economy Major with MSc in Oil and Gas Management and pursuing a Ph.D, many people are baffled that the dreadlocked humble rastaman has not banked on his degrees to secure employment, but is rather following a musical career with passion.
He came to international fame with his eponymous song, ‘Barack Obama,’ which celebrated the first African-American President of the U.S. His musicality is original, while his spirituality is profound. He invented a style of music he christened ‘Kuchoko’; and blended Islam with Rastafarianism.
In ‘Kuchoko,’ he mixed reggae with African rhythms and instrumentation. That came about after a Diasporan friend of his reminded him that he cannot own reggae since Jamaicans originated that music brand. His pal’s advice drove creative Blakk to undertake research and innovate. According to www.ghanaweb.com, he “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.” He holds an annual ‘Kuchoko’ festival where African reggae is performed in Ghana.
His latest album, Timbuktu By Road, was launched in 2019. In 2016, he minted Kuchoko Revolution; next came Ancestral Moonsplash in 2014, and 2011 witnessed the birth of Born Dread. In 2010, Voice of the African Rebel was birthed, while Naked Wire was produced in 2008. Natty Bongo came in 2006, and Ganja Minister was born in 2004. Two years earlier, More Fyah saw the light of day, while in 2000 Blakk debuted The Rasta Shrine.
Some of his singles are ‘Dede,’ ‘Barack Obama,’ ‘Gaddafi,’ ‘Mallam Tonga,’ ‘My Hero,’ ‘52 Ambulances’ (Knii Lante featuring Blakk Rasta) and Naked Wire.’
His odyssey in radio music anchoring is quite interesting. Blakk honed his radio music presentation skills when he was an undergraduate at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology from 1997 to 2001. He also presented reggae at Tamale and continued to harbor-city Takoradi with improvement in radio hosting.
Sabotaged at the Takoradi radio station after he returned from a trip abroad, he found himself with Happy FM in Accra. His firebrand matter-of-fact mannerisms not tolerated at Happy FM, he departed and Accra-based Hitz FM welcomed him. After he alleged on his well-patronized program, ‘Taxi Driver,’ that most Parliamentarians were users of marijuana, a herb of which he is a champion for its decriminalization but does not smoke it, he was summoned by the Legislature to prove his allegation. After showing remorse, the august House suffered him and allowed him go free.
When the MPs invited Blakk, he was deserted by Multimedia, his employer, and he felt betrayed by his immediate boss too, Mark Okrakue. So he resigned from Hitz FM and traveled abroad, doing musical and teaching stints in the United States and other countries.
Later, Nana Appiah Mensah (aka NAM 1) employed him as a presenter of Zylofon FM, where he currently spits fire on corruption, indiscipline, greed, hypocrisy, bleaching, immorality, neocolonial mentality, political irresponsibility and thievery in Ghana, the rest of Africa and the world.
His awards include Best Reggae Song of 2003 (Ghana Music Awards), Radio Reggae Show Host of the Year (Ghana Radio and TV Awards), BASS Awards and National Award for Cultural Excellence.
He is a widely traveled performer, vising several African, European, Caribbean and South American States. He was the personal guest of President Robert Gabriel Mugabe of Zimbabwe. He is a philanthropist and visits the prisons to perform for the inmates every year.
Blakk was born on 2nd September, 1974 in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. His parents are devout Ahmadi Moslems. A naturalist, Blakk is a vegan in toto. He is married and has children.
