Gyakie

Gyakie is the breakout star who carried Ghanaian afro-fusion onto the international charts. With a soft, soulful voice and a knack for melody, she became one of the first artists of her generation to score a genuine continental hit, and did it while stepping carefully out of a famous father's shadow.

Early life

She was born Jackline Acheampong on 16 December 1999 and raised in Kumasi. She is the daughter of Nana Acheampong, one half of the pioneering Lumba Brothers who popularised burger-highlife, and she grew up in the studio, joining her father from the age of eight. Early in her career she deliberately kept the family connection quiet, determined to make her own name first.

Breakthrough

She released her debut single Love Is Pretty in 2019, but it was Forever, from her 2020 EP Seed, that changed everything. The song topped charts across Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya, and a remix with Nigerian star Omah Lay pushed it further still, turning her into one of Africa's most promising young voices.

Career

Managed by Flip the Music, she followed her breakthrough with steady releases and international collaborations, building a reputation for a distinctive, understated style that stands apart from the louder end of Afrobeats. She has studied international business at KNUST alongside her music.

Standing

Still early in her career, Gyakie has already achieved the cross-border success many Ghanaian artists chase for years, and stands among the leading women carrying the country's new sound to the world.