M.anifest Defends Rapping In Twi And Cites Obrafour As His Greatest Inspiration
Ghanaian rap legend M.anifest has sparked a conversation about language and authenticity in Ghanaian Hip-Hop.
In a post shared on his socials as part of his “No Where Cool” 10 anniversary celebrations, the godMC opened up about his biggest musical influence growing up.
According to M.anifest, his greatest rapper inspiration from Ghana was not an English rapper, but the rap Sofo himself, Obrafour.
He wrote:
“Growing up my greatest rapper inspiration from Ghana was Obrafour. He raps primarily in Twi, weaving in English & Pidgin – both of which he is equally capable in. Language is a vehicle, not a destination. Don’t let an inferiority complex skew your views. #NowhereCool10”
M.anifest, known for his clever wordplay and perfect blend of English, Twi and Pidgin, is celebrating 10 years of his iconic Nowhere Cool album; an album many consider one of the greatest Ghanaian Hip-Hop projects ever.
His statement comes at a time when there is an ongoing debate on social media about whether Ghanaian rappers should rap more in English to go global, or stick to Twi and local languages.
M.anifest’s message is clear: It’s not about what language you rap in, but what you say. He describes language as just a “vehicle” to carry the message, not the final destination.
He also subtly warned fans and critics not to look down on Twi rap due to an inferiority complex that makes English seem superior.
Obrafour himself is widely respected for proving that you can rap dominantly in Twi and still be lyrically superior, commercially successful and culturally impactful. His classic “Pae Mu Ka” album is still the blueprint.
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