Angel Maxine

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Angel Maxine
Angel Maxine at Christopher Street Day Berlin 2023-07-22 14.jpg
Angel Maxine singing on the stage at the 2023 Christopher Street Day in Berlin after awarding the Soul of Stonewall Award.
NationalityGhanaian
EducationUniversity of Ghana
Alma mater Ghana Senior High School
Known forMusician, activist
MovementActivist for LGBT rights in Ghana

Angel Maxine Opoku is a Ghanaian musician. [1] [2] Maxine is known as the first openly transgender Ghanaian musician. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Raised in the coastal city of Tema, Maxine says that her home was "deeply religious and musical" and was where she took to music at a young age. [4] She attended the Ghana Secondary School in Koforidua for her senior high school education and later the University of Ghana for a food safety and nutrition degree. She later attended the Regional Maritime University. [5] Angel grew up in the coastal city of Tema, as the daughter of a reverend and a prophetess.

Music career

Angel started her music career in 2020 with her first single titled Sweetness (D3d33d3).

She released Wo Fie which featured Wanlov the Kubolor and Sister Deborah, whom she describes as "siblings, musicians, activists, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community." [6] Wo Fie, which means "your home," became a viral Pride Month hit in 2022. [6] It became a number one trending video on TikTok. [6]

Her song Kill The Bill, released in 2021, is a campaign song against the new Ghanaian anti-LGBT bill. [7] [8]

Her latest single, titled "PrEP" is a song about a medication Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention, which can prevent you from contracting HIV. The song was released on November 30, 2022 to mark World AIDS Day and to help in the fight to end HIV/AIDS. [6]

Activism

Angel Maxine is an open advocate for LGBT+ rights in Ghana and has been vocal about her rejection of the proposed Ghanaian anti-LGBT bill which is before the Parliament of Ghana as of July 2022. [9] [10] [11]

Discography

Singles

YearTitleArtist
2020Sweetness (D3d33d3) [12] Angel Maxine
2021Wo FieAngel Maxine, Wanlov the Kubolor and Sister Derby
2021Kill The Bill [13] Angel Maxine featuring Wanlov the Kubolor and Sister Derby
2022PrEPAngel Maxine

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References

  1. Crabbe, Nathaniel (2022-07-01). "I was effeminate from birth - 1st GH openly trans singer embraces her uniqueness". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  2. Somuah-Annan, Grace (2022-07-04). "We exist, and it's Ghana we'll stay – Angel Maxine, Ghana's openly transgender musician, declares". 3NEWS.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  3. moshood (2021-10-28). "Becoming Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician". African Arguments. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  4. "Becoming Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician". 28 October 2021.
  5. admin (2020-02-08). "Angel Maxine, Ghana's first transgender musician". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Maxine, Angel (24 November 2022). "My Song About Ghana's LGBTQ+ Community Went Viral — Even Though Radio Stations Won't Play It". Global Citizen. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. "'Trans people exist and we are in Ghana'". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  8. culturedesk; Dubaich, Renee (2022-02-14). "Ghanaian musician Angel Maxine discusses musical activism, LGBTQ+ advocacy". The Pitt News. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  9. Roberto, Muyela (2022-07-02). "First LGBTQ Ghanaian musician mad over proposed anti-gay bill". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  10. "Ghana's first openly trans musician fights homophobia with song". GAY TIMES. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  11. "Ghana's First Openly Trans Musician Fights Homophobia with Song". Global Citizen. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  12. Music, Ghana (2020-05-20). "Single: Sweetness (D3d33d3) by Angel Maxine". Ghana Music. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  13. "Kill the Bill feat. Wanlov the Kubolor & Sister Deborah, by Angel Maxine". Angel Maxine. Retrieved 2022-08-20.