I’m originally from Mali; Kwame Nkrumah brought my ‘ancestors’ to clean gutters in Ghana — Bukom Banku
Retired Ghanaian boxer and comedian, Braimah Kamoko, alias Bukom Banku, has provided insight into his lineage, tracing the roots of his family to Mali.
Bukom Banku detailed that he is originally from Mali but ended up in Ghana due to some decisions by Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
During an interview on Onua TV, Banku explained that he is among the third generation of a Malian family that was brought to Ghana by Kwame Nkrumah to undertake cleaning activities in the country’s cities.
He disclosed that his grandfather settled in Ghana after they were brought here by Kwame Nkrumah.
However, Banku disclosed that he knows none of his family members in Mali but is familiar with his maternal side.
“I’m originally not a Ghanaian. I’m from a town in Mali. Kwame Nkrumah brought our grandfathers to clean gutters in Ghana, and that is how we ended up here.
“The Alis originally come from Mali, but Kwame Nkrumah brought them to Ghana to clean Ghanaian gutters, and my grandfather was part of that.
“He gave birth to Amadou (Banku’s father), Amadou gave birth to Braimah, and I gave birth to Tilapia. I’m half Malian and half Ghanaian, but I don’t know my family in Mali. I only know my mother’s family members,” he said.
Bukom Banku officially announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 43.
Born in Bukom, a suburb in Ghana's capital Accra on August 17, 1980, Braimah Kamoko's only defeat in his career that spanned over two decades came in 2017 when he lost to Bastie Samir.
Young Bukom Banku first announced his presence to the boxing world in 1999 after winning the bronze in the Heavyweight division in the All African Games in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 1999.