Stephanie Benson

Last updated

Stephanie Benson
Akua Ohenewaa
Born (1967-08-16) 16 August 1967 (age 56)
Kumasi
OriginAshanti Region, Ghana
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s)Singer, composer, performer, voice coach, businesswoman
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1990–
LabelsBenson Entertainment Production
Website stephaniebensonlive.com

Stephanie Benson, also known as Princess Akua Ohenewaa Asieanem of Kokobin, is a UK-based Ghanaian international singer and performer who is rooted in jazz music. [1] In Ghana, she has been described as the queen of jazz. [2]

Contents

Early life

Stephanie Benson was born in Ghana to royal Parents, [3] a pharmaceutical millionaire and his fourth wife named Queen Nana Boahemah II who had seventeen children. [1] [4] Her musical career began at the age of three [5] when she started learning how to play the piano. [6] She added the violin and cello when she was enrolled at the National Academy of Music at the age of eight in the year 1975. [7] She became interested in playing the piano after her father often played the instrument to her before bedtime. [7]

After her father's death in 1981 [8] when she was fourteen, she moved to London, England to explore life in a different part of the world. [9] During her stay in London, she channeled her energy into playing the piano under the watchful eye of her uncle, [10] and later got a residency singing and playing in one of the famous nightclubs called Strange Fellows nightclub in London, UK. [11] [2]

Career

During one of Benson's usual shows in the London nightclub, she was spotted by Pete Waterman, [12] owner of PWL, who offered her a contract with his label. The deal led her to record and release her first single, "Now is the Time", placing her in the top 20 on UK dance charts. [13] Benson went on a promotional tour across Europe until her contract with PWL came to an end. [14] She then started writing and collaborating with artists including Stevie Wonder, Wayne Vaughn (Earth Wind and Fire), Rob Davis (Kylie Minogue), Terry Britton (Tina Turner), Andy Hill (Bucks Fizz) and Danny Schogger (Celine Dion). [15] [16]

Music school

In a bid to groom potential stars of Ghanaian talent in all fields of the industry. in April 2013, Benson announced the establishment of a music school named the Benson Entertainment Production Institute (BEPI) in Accra. [17] [18] BEPI is intended to promote professional international standards relating to stage performances and rehearsals, theatre shows, TV shows and musical concerts, and training, as well as to serve commercial purposes. [19] The first performance of students from BEPI was in 2014 at +233 Jazz Bar and Grill, Accra. [20] [21]

Performances for Royal family

Since taking on music commercially, Benson has entertained celebrities and important personalities at public and private events including the British royal household and Prince Charles, who said upon hearing her sing the first time, "You are one of the most amazing performers I've ever seen." [9] Benson has performed at events hosted by the British royals including Princess Anne, and reportedly exceeded her 15-minute allotted performance time for Prince Charles to approximately an hour because he enjoyed her act. [22]

She received another invitation to sing for Prince William before his wedding to Kate Middleton on 29 April 2011. [22]

Personal life

Family

Benson is an younger sister of Ghanaian highlife singer, Akosua Agyapong. [13] She is married to John, and together they have five children. The couple own a chocolate shop located in The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. [4]

On 22 April 2014 Benson was involved in a car accident. [23] Following this, she released a gospel single titled "My Prayer" as a way of showing appreciation and gratitude to God for saving her from the accident. [24]

Surviving breast cancer

On 29 October 2015, Benson underwent surgery for breast cancer, a situation she described as shocking when she was diagnosed, revealing that she had lost her grandmother, mother and other relatives to the disease. [25] Following her survival, she trained to do a mountain walk in France on 1 September 2016 with the Dutch "Singing for your Life" team to raise funds towards a cancer research and mobile mammogram unit for Ghana, and support for the Dutch Cancer Society. [26]

Benson has publicly talked about surviving breast cancer after undergoing a total of 28 hours of surgery within three days. [27]

On 19 March 2016, at Labadi Beach Hotel's Omanye Hall in Accra, she held a women's gathering centred on her fight against breast cancer with the aim of encouraging and strengthening women amidst music and words of exhortation. [28] She released her song titled "Dear Lord" at this event, which was attended by notable women including Nana Ama McBrown, Michelle McKinney-Hammond as well as singers Akosua Agyapong, Irene Logan, Yaa Yaa and Becca. [29]

Brand Ambassador

In October 2018, 3Foundation made her a brand ambassador to lead a breast cancer awareness campaign where she helped raised funds to support women affected by breast cancer to undergo resconstructive surgeries. [30]

Discography

Since moving back to Ghana, Benson has released a number of albums, including Different Kind of Heaven, What are you doing with your life and Friend in 2015, as well as Dear Lord and I am worth it in 2016.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akosua Busia</span> Ghanaian actress and writer (born 1966)

Akosua Gyamama Busia is a Ghanaian actress, writer and songwriter. She is known to film audiences for playing Nettie Harris in the 1985 film The Color Purple. She is the daughter of Ghanian Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia.

Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, popularly known as Mohammed Polo and the "Dribbling Magician", is a former Ghanaian international and local club football player. He is considered one of the best dribblers and Ghana players of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juliet Ibrahim</span> Liberian-Lebanese actress

Juliet Ibrahim is a Ghanaian actress, film producer, and singer of Lebanese, Ghanaian and Liberian descent. She won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards for her role in 4 Play. She has been referred to as the "Most Beautiful West African Woman" according to A-listers Magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yvonne Nelson</span> Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur

Yvonne Nelson is a Ghanaian actress, model, film producer, author, entrepreneur and a former Miss Ghana Contestant. She has starred in several movies, including House of Gold (2013), Any Other Monday, In April, and Swings, and appeared in the limelight of the movie industry with a role she played in the "Princess Tyra" and "Playboy" movies. She has over 7.4M Followers on Instagram currently.

Theodosia Salome Okoh was a Ghanaian teacher and artist known for designing Ghana's national flag in 1957. She exhibited her artwork internationally. She also played a leading role in the development of hockey in Ghana. Her grandson is Ian Jones-Quartey, creator of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, and her granddaughter-in-law is Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe.

Peace Hyde is a British-Ghanaian television producer, TV host, creator, journalist, and education activist. She is the creator and executive producer of Netflix's first African reality TV series Young, Famous & African, as well as the Head of Digital Media and Partnership and West African correspondent at Forbes Africa. She is the founder of Aim Higher Africa, a non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of education in impoverished communities across Africa. In 2019, she was awarded the African Social Impact Award at the House of Parliament, House of Commons in the UK.

Grace Omaboe, popularly known as Maame Dokono, is a Ghanaian actress, singer, television personality, author and a former politician. She run the former Peace and Love Orphanage which is now Graceful Grace school in Accra. She was honored by the organizers of 3Music Awards for her achievement in the entertainment industry in Ghana.

Akosua Agyapong, is a Ghanaian female highlife singer and television personality. She was honored by the organizers of 3Music Awards for her achievement in the entertainment industry in Ghana.

Abena Pokua Adompim Busia is a Ghanaian writer, poet, feminist, lecturer and diplomat. She is a daughter of the former prime minister of Ghana, Kofi Abrefa Busia, and is the sister of actress Akosua Busia. Busia is an associate professor of Literature in English, and of women's and gender studies at Rutgers University. She is Ghana's ambassador to Brazil, appointed in 2017, with accreditation to the other 12 republics of South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennedy Agyapong</span> Ghanaian politician and businessman

Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is a Ghanaian politician and businessman who represents Assin Central in parliament as a member of the New Patriotic Party. He was first elected as a member of parliament in 2000 to the seat of Assin North. He retained his seat in the year 2004 and 2008 parliamentary elections. In 2012, he was elected in the new seat of Assin Central and was re-elected in 2016. He also retained his seat in the 2020 general elections. He is currently the Chairman of the Parliament's Defense and Interior Committee. As an aspirant in 2023 for the presidential candidacy of the NPP, he lost to Mahamudu Bawumia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lordina Mahama</span> Former First Lady of the Ghana

Lordina Mahama is a Ghanaian former First Lady of Ghana who served as first lady from 2012 to 2017. She is married to the fourth President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama. Prior to becoming First Lady, she was the Second Lady of Ghana from 2009 to 2012.

Akosua Frema Osei-Opare is an astute development practitioner, an academic, and a Ghanaian politician. Having spent 40 years in these domains, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare is an expert in labour and hiring as well as development consulting. She represented Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Parliament of Ghana. She is the current and first female Chief of Staff of Ghana.

Sandra Ankobiah is a Ghanaian lawyer, TV host, and entrepreneur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kobi Hemaa Osisiadan</span> Ghanaian television presenter (born 1983)

Afia Serwaa Kobi Hemaa Osisiadan-Bekoe is a Ghanaian female entrepreneur, TV presenter and communication specialist. She has had a career in the media industry for over ten years. She is currently the head of corporate communication at Ghana Post Company Limited and the founder of Angeles Foundation an agency which focuses on boy-child empowerment and entrepreneurial skills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nana Akosua Konadu</span> Ghanaian television personality

Eunice Nana Akosua Konadu, also known as Nana Akosua Konadu, is a Ghanaian broadcaster and the CEO and founder of Enak Consult. She is the host of the talk show The Hard Truth.

Isaac Adu Mensah, professionally known as Yaw Skyface, is a Ghanaian filmmaker, director and cinematographer. His debut film Door 2 Door was met with mostly positive reviews upon its release in 2017.

Rex Omar is a Ghanaian highlife artist. He first rose to prominence in 1989 with the Aware Pa album which also included the track, Wodofo Ne Hwan? Following this, in 1992 he formed the Highlife Supergroup Nakorex together with fellow Highlife artists Nat Brew and Akosua Agyapong, the group's name being an acronym made up of the first letters of each member's name. He then pursued a solo career. He performed together with Sony Achiba. In 2004 Omar was nominated for a Kora award, and in 2005 he was nominated as Artiste of the Year in the Ghana Music Awards.

Joyce Akosua Twene also known as Joyce Blessing is a Ghanaian and African gospel musician.

Leonora Okine is a Ghanaian actress, philanthropist and business strategist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Sophie Avé</span> French diplomat

Anne-Sophie Avé is a French diplomat. From September 2018 to August 2022, she was the Ambassador of France to Ghana. From 2019 to 2021, she hosted a TV talk show in Ghana called 'Touch of France'.

References

  1. 1 2 Peel, John. "GhanaianPrincess". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 Online, Peace FM. "Stephanie Benson Performs@ +233 on Easter Saturday" . Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Sweet career for African princess". BBC News. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Akwasi, Tiffany (20 July 2018). "Stephanie Benson age, family, & career". Yen.com.gh – Ghana news. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Photos: Stephanie Benson, hottest mum in Gh entertainment". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  8. ↑ Ndetei, Chris (20 July 2018). "Stephanie Benson age, family, & career". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Biography". Stephanie Benson. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Mel Gibson witnessed my first performance – Stephanie Benson". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Akosua Agyapong's Sister, Stephanie Benson The Diana Ross Look Alike". www.ghanaforum.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.[ self-published source ]
  14. ↑ "Get to know Stephanie Benson". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "Stephanie Benson Biography". stephaniebensonlive.com. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Singer, Stephanie Benson establishes Benson Entertainment Production Institute". ameyawdebrah.com. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "BIOGRAPHY: Stephanie Benson". ghanagist.com. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "Stephanie Benson, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  21. ↑ Akese, Efia (26 February 2015). "Stephanie Benson to showcase her students". Graphic Communications Group Limited. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  22. 1 2 "I don't dress to please anyone – Stephanie Benson". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "Stephanie Benson involved in an accident, car up in flames". myjoyonline.com. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  24. ↑ "Listen UP: Stephanie Benson drops gospel single, 'My Prayer'". ameyawdebrah.com. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  25. ↑ "Surviving breast cancer: Stephanie Benson to save other women". 18 November 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  26. ↑ "Stephanie Benson: surviving cancer and raising funds | Lifestyle -". thebftonline.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  27. ↑ "Stephanie Benson connects with female artistes". ghanaweb.com. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  28. ↑ KOULIBALY, KOUME (21 March 2016). "Sisters connect on wings of music". Graphic Communications Group Limited. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  29. ↑ "Stephanie Benson Connects with Female Artistes". peacefmonline.com. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  30. ↑ "Stephanie Benson Unveiled As Brand Ambassador For Breast Cancer Awareness". DailyGuide Network. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.