I want to leave a legacy for young creatives —M.anifest

IF there is a young rapper in the Ghanaian music industry who has established himself as one of the most sought-after rappers with a vast catalogue of songs and countless accolades to his name, it would be M.anifest.

With his unique rhyming style and versatility which has earned him collaborations with musical giants such as Burna Boy, Damon Albarn (Gorillaz), Tiggs Da Author, Erykah Badu, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Tony Alle and hosts of awards, he continues to thrive in the industry.

While juggling the demands of keeping his craft fresh and remaining relevant in the music industry, M.anifest is also working hard to leave a lasting legacy for up-and-coming acts who lack the resources to flourish.

Related: Sponsoring creatives not charity work —M.anifest

In a recent interview with Daily Graphic, he said that creating avenues that would help young, underprivileged talents break through to the spotlight is a part of the legacy he wishes to leave for future generations.

 Lasting legacy

M.anifest is of the conviction that it is typically difficult for emerging acts to flourish, despite their skills, because there are no clearly established mechanisms in the country that promote up-and-coming acts.

 “In Ghana, it is very difficult for some of the most visionary artistes to find space to succeed, especially in the music space. So, for me, I think part of my legacy will, hopefully, be building vehicles for these acts to push through, as well as provide infrastructure to help a lot of the promising talents we have in our space.

When I think of the legacy I want to leave, I think about being transformational, trying to empower those who take alternative routes and those who do not only think of just entertainment, but those with purpose and vision. I want to represent those people,” he said.

According to the Someway Bi rapper, in addition to becoming a dominant force in the music industry, he also wants to add his name to the tall list of pioneers who placed equal emphasis on their craft's cultural and social effects, as well as its entertainment value.

“I want to break more barriers, create more opportunities and be a person who represents not just singing and dancing, but someone who touches other areas of our society.

I want to be part of people who think beyond just their craft and identify what they can do in their space to make a great deal of impact in their society; that is the kind of person I want to be. Every time you mention names like Fella Kuti, Bob Marley etc., it is because beyond the music, they have such a cultural impact, and I have a soft spot for people who thread such paths,” he added.

Fashion sense

Beyond music, M.anifest, born Kwame Ametepee Tsikata, has developed a distinctive fashion style for himself which, in his words, is a distinctive way of portraying both his music and his country.

There is no denying that M.anifest has always been a fan of all things African and has always promoted it through his music videos.

M.anifest told the Daily Graphic that while his fashion sense may not be in line with what other people do, it is unquestionably his individual means of expressing what he believes in. He gave an explanation of the reasoning for his sense of style and his preference for apparel with predominantly African motifs.

“What informs my sense of fashion is innovation. I think innovation is a big part of me. If people are going right, I go left. I am always excited about things that are unique. I dress and look like my music and it is that unique.”

Rap music in Ghana

As he entered the discussion about the future of rap music in Ghana's music industry, he posited that he was very pleased with how promising the future of rap music in Ghana appeared to be, stressing that the country has a large pool of talented individuals who, when given the right environment and opportunities, could achieve outstanding success on both local and international levels.

In his opinion, all that was needed for them to become unbeatable competitors who will confront the rest of the globe was the maximum amount of support and excitement, both of which were lacking in the Ghanaian music industry.

“Are there rappers that are coming up? Definitely, and some of them are scary good. I think the new era of rappers are going to be better than us because they have interacted with the globe in a different way.

“And also, just as we have been fortunate to build off the shoulders of the Obrafours and the likes, I think there is going to be a new crop of rappers who are going to be out of this world. I mean, look at  Black Sherif, are you kidding? That is a rapper with a melody, and they are taking it to the next level.”

Awards

Rapper M.anifest certainly has a tall list of awards to his credit, both locally and internationally.

Some notable ones include Best Rapper of the Year (2017)—Ghana Music Awards; Midem Best Artiste (2017)—International Midem Awards, France; Best Artiste in African Hip-Hop Award—AFRIMA 2018; Best Hip-Hop Video—4syte Music Video Awards; Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2013)— Ghana Music Awards; Best Rapper of the Year (2013)—Ghana Music Awards and  Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2017)—Ghana Music Awards.

His popular song, Someway Bi, earned him a third-place honour in the International Songwriters Competition in 2015. In the same year, The Guardian named M.anifest "the foremost rapper on the continent."

Some of the songs the 40-year-old rapper has to his credit include Forget Dem, Rapper 101, Makaa Maka, W'ani Aba, god MC, Me Ne Woa, Big Mad and 100% .