Award-winning Ghanaian musician Okyeame Kwame has opened up about a challenging period in his life when he battled depression in 2016.
The artist, known for hits like “Yeeko,” revealed in an interview with Bola Ray on Starr Chat on Starr FM that he experienced fear and anxiety about turning 40 years old.
Okyeame Kwame, also known as the Rap Doctor, expressed his concerns about becoming irrelevant in the music industry as he approached the age of 40. He feared that his ideas would be considered outdated and that he would no longer resonate with younger audiences. The musician shared, “I had written an article on my fear of the big four zero and almost everything that I feared…that I will lose my audience share, and then I’m going to be old, my ideas will be old, what are young people listening to.”
The “Yeeko” hitmaker also revealed that financial losses added to his feelings of depression. He disclosed that he lost approximately $80,000 on investments in his music business, which further contributed to his emotional struggles.
Reflecting on this difficult time, Okyeame Kwame shared, “I had invested a lot of money in my career that didn’t work. I put up billboards, I did rebranding and it didn’t work. I lost about $80,000. So that one, plus the shows not coming, plus my fear of the 40 years…the cock came home to roost. All the little things…so I felt inadequate, I am nothing, I am a nobody.”
It took the musician an entire year to recover from this period of depression. Okyeame Kwame’s candid disclosure sheds light on the mental health challenges that individuals, including public figures, may face. The musician’s openness about his experience also serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and seeking support when needed.
