Ghanaian musician Jacline Acheampong, popularly known as Gyakie, has stated that her fans in Japan are buzzing her phone as they can’t wait for her performance at the maiden edition of the Afro Jam Festival.
“I’ve been getting a lot of dms from my people in Japan that they cannot wait for me to get there.”
“When I got the information that they needed me for the performance, I had to actually take in that I was going to Asia. I can’t believe it,” she told Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z.
The Afro Jam Festival, slated for July 18 to 27, 2025, will feature other artists including Jason Derulo, Rema, Ruger, and Shenseea.
Gyakie will be performing on July 18 in Okinawa, July 24 in Osaka, and July 27 in Tokyo.
The gola of Afro Jam Fest is to introduce and celebrate Afrobeats culture in Japan.
Japan is fast becoming a market for Afrobeats, the festival is expected to cement the global appeal of the music form.
The “Rent Free” hitmaker has joined Ghanaian musicians, who are making strides Asia. King Promise, KiDi and Santrofi band are examples of artistes in this league.
Currently, a new single, titled ‘Sankofa’, has been released by Gyakie ahead of her upcoming ‘After Midnight’ album.
Meanwhile, Gyakie has resisted attempts to revisit the ordeal she went through during an attack on her manager during Portugal’s 2023 Afronation festival.
She told Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz on Friday, May 23, she had to juggle her emotions, handle the situation, and maintain a positive energy to perform on stage within the same period.
She said since it was a terrible experience, she hesitates to talk about it because it opens wounds that have already been healed.
“I really wish I was able to answer this particular question at the time, because it’s like anytime I have to talk about it, it kind of opens wounds that have already been healed,” she said.
She added, “What happened, and the fact that I actually had a performance on that day, is not something I would wish on anyone. I had to prepare for the stage, and I had to experience all that happened.”
Gyakie further entreated industry players to be more cautious of challenges that are inevitable in their day-to-day engagement.
A video that went viral in July 2023 on social media showed Gyakie’s manager, Electro Mirror, being manhandled by some uniformed security personnel, to the horror of onlookers.
The video, shared by George Britton, featured George’s panicked voice in the background as he reproached the security officers for their actions.
Mirror was seen pinned to the floor while about five security men held him in a chokehold as he gasped for air.