Okyeame Kwame: Music Star Shares Experience With Dyslexia, Couldn’t Recite ABCD at 12
- Okyeame Kwame has shared an intriguing story from his childhood, stating that he suffered from dyslexia
- In a recent interview, the award-winning rapper indicated he could not read and write even at the age of 12
- He said was pressured into learning by his parents and teachers and only learned of his condition later
One of Ghana’s most successful musicians, Okyeame Kwame, narrated that he battled with dyslexia as a child, and until almost becoming an adult, he could not read or write.
According to him, between the ages of 10 and 12, when most children had long begun to read and write fluently, his story was different, as he could not even recite the ABCs.
This condition, he stated, caused him to be beaten by his teachers and parents at the slightest provocation because they felt he was being lazy or simply refusing to learn.
Source: Facebook
Okyeame Kwame was speaking in an interview on TV3’s Afternoon Show with hosts Anita Akua Akuffo and Godwin Namboh, and monitored by YEN.com.gh.
Okyeame Kwame struggled as school child
He shared that being dyslexic as a child, he felt like a piece of trash because his father loved him so much, but was left disappointed because he could not perform well in school as expected of him.
His mother even sought the help of a female teacher in their school to help him improve, but he was subjected to constant beatings with no headway.
“I felt like trash because my father loves me, and I couldn’t live up to the expectations of my academic capabilities. At the time, there was this woman in my school who was my mother’s friend. My mother told her that my child loves to play too much, so help us.
“You know, their concept of helping was to beat it out of me. Even around 10, 11, 12, I couldn’t say my ABCD. I could recite from MNOP. So, I have lived with dyslexia to the point of carrying last in class and not being able to learn.”
“And especially, during my upper primary days, you know, in Ghana, on Mondays, they do dictation and spelling bee. So, if you are not able to spell or add, they beat you in the head. So, every time I was going to school, I was completely scared,” Okyeame Kwame said.
He disclosed that he had gone to work in the US and became a manager when his boss read his report and saw that there was a lot of sense in it, but his writing was not accurate.
According to the Rap Dacta, the boss asked him if he was dyslexic, and that was the first time he had heard the word.
He was offered help by a gentleman who used music to teach him, and that was when he realised that his superpower was in words, not reading and writing.
The father of two thus called on parents to stop beating their children if they show symptoms of dyslexia, and rather take them to a professional for proper evaluation and management.
The video of Okyeame Kwame and his children is included below:
He said that though the condition cannot be cured, it could be managed so that the child could improve on his talents.
Okyeame Kwame also called on the government to make policies in education to assist people who have dyslexia.
Okyeame Kwame's condition: what is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurological learning condition that primarily affects reading abilities. People with dyslexia struggle to identify speech sounds and understand how these sounds connect to letters and words, making the decoding process challenging. This reading difficulty stems from variations in brain regions responsible for language processing.
According to the Mayo Clinic, dyslexia has no connection to intelligence levels, hearing impairments, or vision problems. Children diagnosed with dyslexia can achieve academic success through targeted tutoring, specialised educational programs, and consistent emotional support from family and educators.
While dyslexia cannot be cured, early detection and intervention significantly improve outcomes for those affected. Many cases remain undiagnosed for years, sometimes not identified until adulthood. However, seeking help at any stage of life can still provide meaningful benefits and support.
Source: Instagram
Okyeame Kwame said that though the condition could be cured, it could be managed so that the child could improve.
The musician also called on the government to make policies in education to assist people who suffered from dyslexia.
Okyeame Kwame speaks against 'galamsey'
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Okyeame Kwame shared his opinion on how the galamsey menace could be stopped through the government.
He claimed President John Mahama could easily use his power to declare that illegal mining should be halted immediately, and it would end.
Okyeame Kwame also urged the President to say something about the canker and asked for politics to be put aside if galamsey was to cease.
Source: YEN.com.gh
