Jamaican Singer Beseeches Asantehene For Ghanaian Name

Jamaican singer and songwriter Hezron Clarke, has besought His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for an Asante name, after tracing his lineage to the Kingdom in Ghana.

Introducing him to Asantehene during the last Akwasidae of the year on November 26, 2023, Oheneba Owusu Korkor, Asamponghene said the musician’s intuition and subsequent probe suggest he is a member of the Asante family.

“The gentleman here is called Hezron Clarke, an award-winning musician in Jamaica. According to him, he is an Asante. He has been able to trace his ancestry to Ghana and the Ashanti Kingdom.”

The “Man On a Mission” album composer, through the spokesperson, further sought a surname to his soul name, Kwame.

“He was born on a Saturday, and has taken that as his first name but needs a surname as well and wants our Lord (Otumfuo) to grace him with an Asante surname.”

Addressing the King and Asanteman, Hezron expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality.

“Thank you for embracing me and welcoming me to my homeland. Many of my elders, teachers, brothers and sisters, mother, father, great men and freedom fighters never lived to see what I am seeing now. They had fought, cried, died and bled for this moment. I’m honoured to be here. Thank you for welcoming me. I’m proud of the King.”

Otumfuo acceded to the request and bestowed on him the surname “Bonsu”. The new name was communicated to the Asamponghene for onward public announcement.

The artiste is in Ghana on a musical tour in promotion of his second album for Tad’s Record, Man on a Mission (M.O.A.M.). He arrived on November 24, and is scheduled to end his tour in the country in January 2024.

He is scheduled for a series of concerts in December and beyond, including Kormifest @Asaase, A Night with Kojo Antwi, Okyeame Kwame concert, Masquerade Festival and Afro Culture