American music legend, Stevie Wonder, has secured Ghanaian citizenship upon his visit to the country.
The honour, conferred on him in Accra on Monday, May 13, 2024, coincided with his 74th birthday.
Pictures of the singer at the Jubilee House, the Seat of the President, appeared up online as he was decorated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Early on, he was treated to a warm cultural display upon arriving at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, where he was seen playing the local drum with the performers.
In February 2021, Stevie Wonder known for top hits like Happy Birthday spoke to celebrated show host Oprah Winfrey about his decision to relocate to Ghana, due to the “political turmoil” in the United States.
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“I wanna see this nation smile again. And I want to see it before I leave to travel to move to Ghana because I’m going to do that,” he was quoted as saying.
The I Just Called to Say I Love You singer had always expressed feeling “a stronger sense of community” in Ghana compared to the US.
It is, however, unknown whether his recent visit to Ghana marked his permanent relocation to the country. Sources say he will use his Ghanaian citizenship concurrently with that of his US citizenship.
Stevie Wonder was born in Michigan and mastered the piano, drums, and harmonica by age 9. He signed with Motown Records in 1961 and has achieved remarkable success, winning 25 Grammy Awards.
He is ranked as one of the best-selling music artistes of all time, with sales of over 100 million records worldwide.
He has won 25 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award and one Academy Award (Best Original Song, for the 1984 film The Woman in Red).
He has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, and also known for his work as an activist for political causes.
In 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and in 2014 honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
His works Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Key of Life (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making him the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases.
