It’s Okay to lock down love

CELEBRITY couples may look perfect, but sometimes the reality is that celebrities struggle through relationships just like everyone else.

But, for every headline-making breakup, there are dozens of other celebrity couples out there who are making it work and using the spotlight to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Take, for example, Hollywood stars Meryl Streep and Don Gummer, who have been married for over 40 years. And there is power couples Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Victoria and David Beckham and Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

Back home, the likes of Hiplife veteran Reggie Rockstone and Zilla Limann, Quophi Okyeame and Stacy Amoateng, Adjetey Annang and Elom, Majid and Virna Michel, and Van Vicker and Adjoa Vicker.

These couples and many more have shown that the onscreen-love that most of us dream about is possible and rapper Okyeame Kwame and wife Annica, have daily shown on social media what relationship goals really look like as a celebrity couple.

Today, February 14 is Valentines ‘s and the Graphic Showbiz had a conversation with Okyeame Kwame about his recipe for a blissful marriage.

Okyeame Kwame and Annica celebrated their 14th marriage anniversary on Monday, January 16, where he expressed his utmost gratitude to her for sacrificing a lot for their marriage.

 Partners’ contribution

According to the Woso hitmaker, the best decision he took as a creative was in the selection of a spouse who appreciated his craft and talent.He mentioned that there were “highs and lows” for artistes and their partners were significant contributors to their positive stories.For this reason, he cautioned young artistes to be prudent in the selection of their partners since that was a major requirement to their longevity in the creative space and to a larger extent, the marriage.

Recounting his experience, he disclosed his wife saved him from his early retirement at a time when he thought his career had nosedived and helped him back on the road of “recovery”.

“First of all, your spouse must be your biggest fan and appreciate the arts and what you do. This is because it is easier for people to downplay the roles partners play, but how can you live with someone who doesn’t appreciate what you do?

“At a point in time, I wanted to bow out of music and study Law instead but my wife counselled me out of it.

“She told me that she married a musician and not a lawyer and for one with a Law background, if she wanted a lawyer for a husband, she would have settled down with one and not me.

“Backed by her words, she took on so many roles and got me back on track and after 20 years in an industry that many people could barely survive, I am here still doing my thing.

“As an entertainer, my job even requires that I stay out late and travel around the world. Not to talk of the many ladies I meet daily in my line of job. How can my wife trust and support me if she doesn’t understand my job?” he asked.

Okyeame Kwame, who has earned a good spot in the hearts of music followers with songs such as Yeeko, Woara, Bra, Small Small, Woso and Bolgatanga Girl said there was no formula for marriage as religion, culture, tradition and education have limited the concept.

“By religion, culture, tradition and education, we have created a marriage of a servant-master relationship but truthfully, that doesn’t work for everyone.

“I went into marriage without any expectations but with the surety that whatever happens, my partner and I will resolve it. No matter what, I will make it work so I see my wife as my friend and an equal.

“By this, I regard her as limitless possibilities, thereby erasing my ego so that I will not be presumptuous and have any prejudices in the marriage. I’m certain that many successful celebrity marriages that have stood the test of time have their own rules as well.

“We are in a different generation with women working and significantly contributing their quota to the family’s growth. If in my marriage, I see myself superior to my wife, how do I expect her to properly guide me as a partner? She will be timid and not have the boldness to point out my wrongdoings,” he said.

 Love Locked Down

The thought of sharing these tenets that contributed to their successful relationship and perhaps shape the idea of their kind of marriage encouraged Okyeame Kwame and his wife to launch their first book, Love Locked Down, in May 2021.

Love Locked Down does not only talk about romance but points out the attributes of love to broaden the understanding of how love can be truly demonstrated.

He said some people normally misinterpreted love and relationship, therefore, their understanding became challenging.

Speaking on what informed their decision to write the book, Okyeame Kwame said his wife had the inspiration through messages received from her colleagues about whether the life portrayed by them on social media was really genuine.

Okyeame Kwame further stated that all the questions that kept coming to his wife encouraged them to rather put their love experience together in a book to help others benefit from it.

However, he intends to put the words of the book into action with the maiden edition of Love Locked Down, scheduled to come off at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill on Saturday, February 18.

The upcoming show has on bill other artistes such as MzVee, Cina Soul and Afriyie. The artistes will be backed by the High Skuul Band.

Okyeame said the event would be an annual affair, affording patrons the time to make merry and spend quality time with their significant others and loved ones.

“It’s going to be fun. There will be love songs, love dances, videos and messages. The audience will be part of the show experiencing love in all shapes and forms,” he stated.

More articles: It’s been 14 years of difficult perfection -Okyeame Kwame praises wife

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Book Review: Love Locked Down by Okyeame Kwame and Anica Nsiah-Apau