I’ll continue to represent Ghana, push the Afrobeat agenda globally — King Promise

Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeats singer-songwriter, Gregory Bortey Newman, known by his stage name King Promise, has reiterated his resolve to represent Ghanaian music on the global stage.

The 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs) Artiste of the Year winner said he sees Afrobeats as personal and a reflection of songs from Africa, adding that he will continue to contribute to its global dominance.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3 on Monday, May 12, the Paris hitmaker noted that he would continue to tour the world with his music and Ghanaian identity, as he has been doing over the years.

“I’ve been doing it—like a lot of things that I’ve done with the music, from when I came on the scene till now, I’ve been pushing the ‘Ghana to the world’ agenda. You should see the tours when we travel. I was the first African to perform in parts of Asia—you know, Singapore. I sold out in Japan, went to Bahrain, Dubai. I’ve done Australia. I’ve done Europe. I just finished America.

“Afrobeats is very personal for me. My definition of Afrobeats is our music as Africans—be it highlife, or whatever—and how it cuts across, going beyond our shores. It’s not just for the people back home,” he said.

King Promise also revealed that he was inspired by R2Bees, who created music not just for people in Ghana but also for those in the diaspora.

“So, it goes beyond the shores of our country, and that’s what I represent—taking our music beyond. You don’t necessarily have to understand my language, but you can tell where I’m from through the music. There’s identity in it, but there’s also relatability, regardless of culture or background,” he said.