Deborah Owusu-Bonsu
Deborah Owusu-Bonsu | |
---|---|
Born | Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu 25 August 1984 |
Other names | Sister Derby, Sister Deborah, Deborah Vanessa |
Education | Wesley Girls' High School Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Bachelor's Degree) University of the Arts London (Master Degree) |
Occupation(s) | Television presenter, model, academic |
Years active | 1994–present |
Deborah Owusu-Bonsu (born 25 August 1984) better known by her stage name as Sister Derby or Sister Deborah[1] is a Ghanaian-Romanian television presenter, musician and model of Akan origin and a former presenter at e.tv Ghana.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was born on 25 th August, 1984, to an Ashanti father and a Romanian mother. Both of her parents were collectors of world music and art. She is a television show host, model, musician, academic, and graphic artist.[3] Owusu-Bonsu is the sister of popular hip life musician Wanlov the Kubolor who starred in the film Coz Ov MDeborah oni.[3] Owusu-Bonsu attended Christ the King International School, then Wesley Girls' High School.[3] She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Publishing Studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology followed by a Master Degree in Book/Journal Publishing from the University of the Arts London.[3]
Professional career
[edit]In 2012, Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu recorded and released a single (music) entitled 'Uncle Obama' referring to Barack Obama in which was covered by United States television network CNN.[4] Since 2012, Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was the host of The Late Nite Celebrity Show program broadcast by television network e.tv Ghana.[5] She later moved to GHOne Television where she hosted her show, Gliterrati for a brief period before handing over to Berla Mundi.[6]
Ghana Jollof
[edit]In the mid 2010 when the competition among West Africans about whose Jollof rice was better, expanded into the "Jollof Wars".[7] The "Jollof War" competition is especially prominent between Nigeria and Ghana.[8][9][10] In 2016 Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu released "Ghana Jollof", which poked fun at the Nigerian version and at Nigerians for being proud of their version.[11]
Personal life
[edit]She dated rapper Medikal for three years, before breaking up in 2018.[12][13] Shortly after she introduced one David as her new partner but shortly after that relationship ended. After that turn of events, the uncle Obama hit-maker revealed in an interview that she is done with men.[1]
Activism
[edit]Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu has been actively involved in sanitation and recycling campaigns using her music. In 2018, she made a call on the government of Ghana to ban the use of plastic bags.[14] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her brother (Wanlov the Kubolor) made nosemasks from recycled secondhand clothing to help reduce clothing waste from dumpsites and the sea.[15][16]
Owusu-Bonsu has also been vocal about the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Ghana. In 2021, she spoke against the Ghanaian anti-LGBT bill and the shutting down of the LGBT+ Rights Ghana office.[17][18][19] She also featured on Angel Maxine's Kill The Bill and Wo Fie, which used music to advocate for the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Ghana.[20][21][22]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2012 | Uncle Obama | Sister Deborah ft (FOKN Bois) |
2015 | Kikoliko | Sister Deborah ft (Joey B)[23][24][25] |
2016 | Ghana Jollof | Sister Deborah[11] |
2017 | Sampanana | Sister Deborah ft (Medikal)[26][27] |
2018 | Pure Water | Sister Deborah ft (Efya)[28][29][30] |
2018 | Kakalika Love | Sister Deborah ft (Efo Chameleon)[31][32] |
2019 | Libilibi | Sister Deborah ft (Yaa Pono)[33] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Sister Deborah was shocked when I called to ask for a feature – Medikal". GhanaWeb. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Mensah, Jeffrey (11 October 2019). "Meet Sister Derby and Wanlov's beautiful 65-year-old 'obroni' mother". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu Uncovered!". atghana. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Deborah Vanessa Drops Single 'Uncle Obama'". Viasat 1. 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Deborah Vanessa wins Fashion 101 top prize". etvghana.com. E.tv Ghana. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Confirmed: Deborah Vanessa and Medikal are dating". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2 August 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "West Africa steams over jollof rice war". BBC News. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ Oderinde, Busayo (5 July 2015). "Busayo Oderinde: The Nigerian Versus Ghanaian Jollof Rice Debate". Bella Naija. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Know the Differences Between Nigerian and Ghanaian Jollof Rice". Demand Africa. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ Adam, Hakeem (20 January 2017). "A Brief History of Jollof Rice, a West African Favourite". Culture Trip. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ a b Egbejule, Eromo (22 August 2016). "World Jollof Day: Jamie Oliver's #ricegate and other scandals". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Medikal finally confirms breakup with Sister Debbie". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 23 March 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Deborah Vanessa confirms break-up with Medikal". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Sister Derby calls on government to ban plastic bags". GhanaWeb. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Wanlov, Sister Derby make face masks from recycled second-hand clothes - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Adu, Dennis (26 March 2020). "Wanlov, Sister Derby make face masks from recycled second-hand clothes [Video]". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "'LGBTQ members must be protected from bloodclarts like you' – Sister Derby attacks critics". GhanaWeb. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Arthur, Erica Nana (23 July 2021). "Your fight against LGBTQ rights shameful, backward - Sister Derby to Sam George — Starr Fm". Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Pappy Kojo, Sam George Fight On Twitter". DailyGuide Network. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ moshood (28 October 2021). "Becoming Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician". African Arguments. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Ghanaians condemn my hit song because it rebukes their 'hate' for gays – Transgender artiste, Angel Maxine - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Ghana's first openly trans musician fights homophobia with song". Reuters. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Dwomoh, Bright (24 November 2015). "Sister Deborah – Kikoliko (ft Joey B) - GhanaSongs.com - Ghana Music Downloads". Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Adinkra, Fiifi (23 November 2015). "Sister Deborah – Kikoliko (Feat. Joey B)". GhanaNdwom.net. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Mawuli, David (23 November 2015). "Sister Deborah - Kikoliko feat. Joey B". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Sister Debora and Medikal release 'Sampanana'". GhanaWeb. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "They're Back! Sister Deborah Drops 'Sampanana' Music Video Featuring Boyfriend, Medikal | AmeyawDebrah.com". 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Sister Deborah shares new music video 'Pure Water' featuring Efya". GhanaWeb. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Ranger, Lone (23 May 2018). "Sister Deborah ft Efya - Pure Water (Prod. by Jeri Beatz)". DCLeakers.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Music, Worla Quist, Ghana (28 May 2018). "Audio: Pure Water by Sister Deborah feat. Efya". Ghana Music. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Sister Derby joins top trends with 'Kakalika Love'". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ CratesHub, Alloh. "Sister Deborah ft Efo Chameleon – Kakalika Love (Prod. by Jeribeatz)". CratesHub.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ Wonah, Israel. "Sister Deborah - Libilibi ft Yaa Pono Mp3 Download » TrendyBeatz". trendybeatz.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.