Distinguished.com

Today, February 8, marks five years since the sudden demise of one of Ghana’s most dynamic singers of all time, Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng, chiefly known as Ebony.

In just a space of three years, the singer was able to transform her name and identity into not only a local but an internationally known moniker.

With popular songs like “Date Your Father,” “Aseda, “Dancefloor,” “Poison, “Maame hw3,” “Hustle, “Kupe, “Turn on the Light,” and others, Ebony won herself several recognitions.

She still holds the record as the only female Ghanaian singer to win the coveted Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) Artiste of the Year Award despite being gone for five years.

After her death in February 2018, Ebony, during the ceremony in May, swept three awards: album of the year with “Bonified,” afropop song of the year with “Sponsor,” and of course, record-setting artist of the year.

She has earlier been named Most Influential Artiste at the 2017 Merit Awards, Artiste of the Year at the Bass Awards, and People’s Celebrity Awards 2017 Favourite Female Musician.

His song Dance Floor won Best Female Video and New Discovery at the 2016 4syte Music Video Awards, as well as Best Dancehall Video at the Bass Awards.

Early life, career, and death

Ebony Reigns was born Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng on February 16, 1997, and was affably known as Nana Heemaa (Oheema) by her close relatives in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra.

Her parents are Nana Poku Kwarteng and Beatrice Oppong Marthin. She was raised in the urban areas of Accra but hailed from the Brong Ahafo region.

She started her basic education at Seven Great Princess Academy in Dansoman, Accra, followed by a high school education at Methodist Girls High School at Mamfe in the Akuapim North District of the Eastern Region, Ghana, though she did not graduate. She quit high school in pursuit of her music career.

Ebony was discovered by musician and entrepreneur Bullet from Ruff n’ Smooth and was signed to his Ruff Town record label.

She came out with her first single, “Dancefloor,” in December 2015, with a video and audio release that was preceded by several records until her sudden demise.

The song became a radio hit, landing her a nomination for the “unsung” category at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards.

In March 2016, Ebony released her major hit single “Kupe.” She was signed to Ruff Town Records and Midas Touch, Inc.

Ebony Reigns died instantly in a traffic collision on February 8, 2018, while returning from Sunyani to Accra after a visit to her mother.

Her assistant and longtime friend Franklina Yaa Nkansah Kuri and soldier Atsu Vondee were also killed in the fatal accident.

The only survivor of the fatal crash was the driver, Phinehas, who resides in Teshie. She died eight days before her 21st birthday.

Her final funeral rites were held at the forecourt of the state house, Accra, and she was buried at Osu cemetery on Saturday, March 24, 2018.