Eugene Kwame Marfo (born February 1, 1997),[1] who goes by the stage name Kuami Eugene is a Ghanaian Hghlife, High-life and Afrobeat singer-songwriter. He is signed to Lynx Entertainment and Empire Distribution[2] and is known for several songs, including "Angela", "Wish Me Well", "Ohemaa", "Wa Ye Wie" and many others. He won the Unsung and New Artist awards in 2017 and 2018 from the Ghana Music Awards respectively, and the Ghana Music Awards UK.[3] He also received the Most Promising Artist in Africa award from AFRIMA / LYNXGHANA.[4][5] In 2019, Kwame Eugene received 7 nominations at the Ghana Music Awards and went on to win the awards for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Highlife Artist of the Year.[6] He was crowned Artist of the Year and High-life Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards.[7]

Kuami Eugene
Background information
Birth nameEugene Kwame Marfo
Also known asRockStar
Born (1997-02-01) 1 February 1997 (age 27)[1]
Oda, Ghana
GenresAfro pop, Highlife, Afrobeats
Occupation(s)Singer, Record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboard
  • guitar
Years active2016–present
LabelsLynx Entertainment, Empire
Websitewww.lynxghana.com

Early life

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Kuami Eugene[8] was born to Alex and Juliana Marfo in Akim Oda, Ghana.[9][10] His interest in music led him to sing in the church from a young age where he also learned how to play the drum, keyboard, and guitar.[11] He attended the Salvation Army Senior High School located at Akim-Wenchi. The young artist, who grew up in the environs of Fadama, a suburb of Accra furthered his education at Ghana Telecom University.[12]

Music career

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Kuami Eugene was a contestant in season 5 of the reality competition show MTN Hitmaker in Ghana in 2016, where he finished third overall.[13] He was signed shortly afterward to Lynx Entertainment and has gone on to release several singles. In 2017, "Angela"[14] reached one million views on YouTube, the most for any music artist on that label, and was indicated to be in rotation among the top 10 songs in Ghana.[15] He is a featured artist in "Adwenfi" [1] by DJ Vyrusky and Shatta Wale.[16] In 2018, he released a continuation of the story line in the "Angela"[17] song called "Confusion".[18] And in June 2018, he released the single "Wish Me Well", which was in response to the negative comments he received on social media.[19]

On 25 December 2017, he performed at Sarkodie's annual Rapperholic Concert .[20] That same year, he performed at Ghana Music Honors 2017 Edition, December to Remember 2017,[21] Concert 2017,[22] and at the 61st Ghana Independence Celebration Show at Indigo 02 in London.[23] Kuami Eugene has gone on to perform on many more stages including at Oh My Festival in Amsterdam, Afrobeats to the World concert at the PlayStation Theatre in New York, and Afronation in Ghana.[24]

In May 2022, Kuami Eugene released his single 'Take Away' and performed at the 2022 Afrochella in Ghana.[25][26]

Producer

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Eugene has produces a number of songs either to himself or his fellow artist. Below is some of the musics he has produced;

  • Bebe by Akasii.[27]
  • Paradise by Mysstel.[28]
  • Fa Meko by Emelia Brobbey.[29]

Recognition

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Legendary High-life artist Amakye Dede crowned Kuami Eugene as his successor in high-life music at the 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.[30]

On the 21st Vodafone Music Awards held at Accra International Conference Centre, Kuami Eugene won the Artiste of the Year, beating off competition from Sarkodie, Medikal, Kofi Kinaata and Diana Hamilton.[31]

Controversies

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Song theft allegations

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In October 2021, a notable incident emerged within the music scene as Bhadext Cona, a musician, publicly accused Kuami Eugene of engaging in song plagiarism. The genesis of this controversy can be traced back to Bhadext Cona's original intention to collaborate with Kuami Eugene on her track titled "Bolga." However, she alleges that instead of honoring the collaborative project, Kuami Eugene repurposed the song and transformed it into his solo release, which he named "Bunker."[32][33]

Discography

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Singles

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Title Year Album
"Ɛbɛyɛyie" 2017 Non-album singles
"Fadama Boy"
"Hiribaba" (featuring MzVee)
"Boom Bang Bang"
"Angela" Rockstar
"Confusion" 2018
"Wish Me Well"
"Wish Me Well remix" (featuring Ice Prince) Non-album singles
"Meji Meji" (featuring Davido)
"Walaahi" Rockstar
"No More" (featuring Sarkodie) 2019
"Ohemaa" (featuring KiDi) Non-album singles
"Obiaato"
"Turn Up" 2020
"Ghana We Dey" (featuring Samini & Shatta Wale) Son of Africa
"Open Gate"
"Fire Fire" 2022 Fire Fire
"Love and Chaos" 2023 Love and Chaos
"Take Away" Take Away
"Monica" 2024 Monica
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Below are some of the singles Kuami Eugene has been featured on.

List of singles, showing title and year released with selected chart positions
Title Year Chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[34]
FRA
[35]
GER
[36]
NLD
[37]
NOR
[38]
NZ
[39]
SWE
[40]
SWI
[41]
UK
[42]
US
[43]
"Rewind"
(MzVee featuring Kuami Eugene)
2017 Daavi
"Adwenfi"
(DJ Vyrusky featuring Shatta Wale & Kuami Eugene)
Non-album singles
"Killing Me Softly"
(Adina featuring Kuami Eugene)
2018
"Kwani Kwani"
(Tic featuring Kuami Eugene)
"Baby Girl"
(Strongman featuring Kuami Eugene)
"New African Girl"
(Fuse ODG featuring KiDi & Kuami Eugene)
90
"Back To Sender"
(DJ Breezy featuring Kuami Eugene, Darko Vibes & Kwesi Arthur)
"Bend Down"
(MzVee featuring Kuami Eugene ft issa Alpha Amadu koroma)
"Drogba (Joanna) - new Africa remix"
(Afro B featuring Mayorkun, Kuami Eugene, KiDi & Frenna)
"Never Carry Last"
(DJ Vyrusky featuring Mayorkun & Kuami Eugene)
Rockstar
"Eternity"
(Jupiter featuring Kuami Eugene)
Non-album singles
"Baby"
(DJ Vyrusky featuring KiDi, Shatta Wale & Kuami Eugene)
2019
"E No Be My Matter"
(Okyeame Kwame featuring Kuami Eugene)
Made in Ghana
"Nothing I Get (remix)"
(Fameye featuring Kuami Eugene, Medikal & Article Wan)
Non-album single
"Honey"
(Sarkodie featuring Kuami Eugene)
Black Love
"Take Me Away"
(Stonebwoy featuring KiDi & Kuami Eugene)
Non-album singles
"No Dulling"
(Keche featuring Kuami Eugene)
2020
"Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)"
(CKay featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene)
8 1 6 1 1 2 4 1 3 29
''Metua''

(Amerado featuring Kuami Eugene)

2021Issa koroma _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Non-album singles

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Award Recipient or nominee Result
2024 Telecel Ghana Music Awards International Collaboration of the year Cryptocurrency Nominated
2022 3Music Awards Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [48]
Best Collaboration of the Year Biibi Besi (Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Happy Day (Sarkodie ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Hiplife Song of the Year Abodie (Captain Planet (4×4) ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Hip-Hop Song of the Year Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year ''Dollar on You'' Nominated
Highlife Act of the Year Himself Nominated
Song of the Year Biibi Besi (Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Happy Day (Sarkodie ft. Kuami Eugene) Nominated
Producer of the Year Himself (Rockstar Made it) Nominated
Video of the Year Spiritual (KiDi ft. Kuami Eugene, Patoranking) Nominated
2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year Himself Nominated [49]
Highlife Song of the Year "Open Gate" Nominated
Most Popular Song of the Year "Open Gate" Nominated
Highlife Artist of the Year Himself Won
Album of the Year "Son of Africa" Nominated
International Collaboration of the Year "Show Body" (ft Falz) Nominated
Collaboration of the Year "Happy Day" (Sarkodie ft Kuami Eugene) Won
Best Music Video "Open Gate" Nominated
3Music Awards Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [50]
Highlife Act of the Year Himself Won
Album of the Year "Son of Africa" Nominated
Song of the Year "Open Gate" Nominated
Afrobeats/Afropop of the Year "Open Gate" Nominated
4syte TV Music Video Awards Best Highlife Video "Open Gate" Nominated [51]
Most Popular Video "Open Gate" Won
Best Male Video "Open Gate" Nominated
Best Special Effect Video "Turn Up" Won
Best Storyline "Open Gate" Nominated
Most Influential Artist Himself Won
Best Edited Video "Open Gate" Nominated
Best Directed Video "Open Gate" Nominated
Overall Best Video "Open Gate" Nominated
2020 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year Himself Won [7]
Highlife Song of the Year "Obiaato" Nominated
Best Video of the Year Nominated
Highlife Artist of the Year Himself Won
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Best Collaboration of the Year "Ohemaa" (ft KiDi) Nominated
Most Popular Song of the Year "Obiaato" Nominated
3Music Awards Highlife Song of the Year "Walaahi" Nominated [52]
Highlife Artist of the Year "Obiaato" Won
2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [31]
Highlife Artist of the Year Won [53]
Producer of the Year Won
Album of the Year Rockstar Won
Song of the Year "Wish Me Well" Nominated [31]
Highlife Song of the Year Nominated
Best Collaboration "Never Carry Last" Nominated
3Music Awards High-life Act of the year Himself Won [54]
High-life Song of the year "Wish Me Well" Won
Ghana Music Awards UK Highlife Song of the Year "Wish Me Well" Won [55]
Highlife Artist of the Year Himself Won
Ghana Music & Arts Awards Europe Highlife Song of the Year "Wish Me Well" Won [56]
Highlife Artist of the Year Himself Won
Artist of the Year Won
2018 4syte Music Video Awards Best Story line Video "Angela" Nominated[57]
Ghana Music Awards High-life Song of the Year "Angela" Nominated [58]
Song of the Year "Angela" Nominated
Best Male Vocalist Himself Nominated
High-life Artist of the Year Himself Won [59]
Best New Artist Himself Won
Liberia Music Awards Best International Artist Himself Nominated [60]
Ghana Music Awards UK Best New Artist of the Year Won [61]
AFRIMA Most Promising Artist in Africa Won [62]
2024 Ghana Music Awards Best Highlife Artiste of the Year Himself Won
3Music Awards Afrobeats/Afro Pop Song of the Year "Cryptocurrency" Pending [63]
Pending
"Monica" Pending
Viral Song of the Year Pending
Album of the Year Love & Chaos Pending
Artiste (MVP) of the Year Himself Pending
Best Collaboration of the Year "Broken Heart" Pending
"Cryptocurrency" Pending
Highlife Song of the Year "Yolo" Pending
Highlife Act of the Year Himself Pending
Hiplife Song of the Year "Yahitte Remix" Pending
Producer of the Year Broken Heart, Monica, Cryptocurrency, Victory Pending
Song of the Year "Monica" Pending
Video of the Year "Cryptocurrency" Pending
"Broken Heart" Pending
Ghana Music Awards USA 2024 Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [64]
Highlife Artist of the Year Nominated
Most Popular Song of the Year "Monica" Nominated
"Yahitte Remix" Nominated
Best Collaboration of the Year Nominated
"Broken Heart" Nominated
"Cryptocurrency" Nominated
Ghana Music Awards UK Artist of the Year Himself Pending [65]
Highlife Artist of the Year Pending
Most Popular Song of the Year "Monica" Pending
Best Collaboration of the Year "Yahittie (Remix)" Pending
Best Music Video of the Year "Fate" Pending
"Broken Heart" Pending
"Cryptocurrency" Pending
Best Afrobeats Song of the Year "Otello" Pending
"Broken Heart" Pending
"Monica" Pending
Best Highlife Song of the Year Pending
Producer of the Year Pending
Best Hiplife Song of the Year "Y'ahite (Remix)" Pending

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kuami Eugene, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com.
  2. ^ "Kuami Eugene – Mtn Hitmaker fame now signed by Lynx Entertainment«". GhanaWeb. 13 November 2016.
  3. ^ "WINNERS 2018". gmauk. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
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  6. ^ "2019 VGMAs: Full list of winners". Ghana Web. 19 May 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Kuami Eugene wins VGMA Artiste of the Year 2020". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-08-30. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
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  13. ^ "Kelvin wins 2016 MTN Hitmaker Reality Show". Ghana Web. 11 August 2016.
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  60. ^ Nii Okai Tetteh (November 30, 2018) Kuami Eugene Has Been Nominated For International Artiste Of The Year In Liberia
  61. ^ "Ghana Music Awards UK 2018: Full list of winners". Music in Africa. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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