Few voices in African music today cut through with the clarity, soul, and emotional depth of Gyakie. The Ghanaian singer-songwriter returns with her new single, Sankofa, a stirring ballad and the first taste of her long-awaited debut album, After Midnight.
Rooted in the meaning of the Ghanaian adinkra symbol — to retrieve what was lost — Sankofa sets the tone for an album built on memory, reflection, and the raw edges of personal truth.
With stripped-down production crafted alongside longtime collaborator Eyram Gbewonyo (Afrolektra), Sankofa finds Gyakie in a quiet but potent space. Her delivery is intimate, almost confessional, marking a bold shift from her earlier works like the infectious Forever or her Davido-assisted track Flames off the My Diary EP. This is not a reinvention — it’s a deepening.
“Almost all the songs on the album were recorded after midnight. That’s when I’m most honest with myself. The serenity, the quiet, the sounds of the birds… it all fuels my creativity.” — Gyakie
After Midnight, slated for release later this year, is poised to be Gyakie’s most defining work yet. It is a journal of emotional seasons — heartbreak, healing, nostalgia, and inner peace — all penned in the still hours of the night. More than a body of music, the project is a sonic ritual, inspired by her upbringing where midnight prayers with her mother shaped her spiritual foundation.
This new chapter is an evolution, not just artistically, but also personally. Gyakie shares the realities of grief, of scheduling tears after the workday, of channeling emotional weight into something melodic, tender, and durable. It’s a reminder that beneath the spotlight, she is still very much human.
Following the success of her SEED and My Diary EPs, Gyakie’s upcoming debut is not only highly anticipated but also a testament to her ability to straddle global appeal with homegrown intimacy. Her sound — a delicate blend of Afrobeats, R&B, highlife, and contemporary soul — continues to break ground beyond Ghana’s borders.
Earlier this year, Gyakie appeared at the 2025 Forbes Summit, where she spoke on innovation in music and the importance of genre-blending in a globalized soundscape. From SoundCloud to Spotify charts, to sold-out performances and thought-leader panels — she’s proving that her voice, both musically and culturally, matters.
Sankofa is not just a single. It’s a call back to self. A soft reset. An invitation to listen inward.
And when After Midnight finally drops, we’ll be ready — lights off, headphones in, truth turned all the way up.
Listen to “Sankofa” now.
Stay tuned for Gyakie’s debut album After Midnight.
