Deborah Owusu-Bonsu

Deborah Owusu-Bonsu
Born
Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu

(1984-08-25) 25 August 1984 (age 40)
Other namesSister Derby, Sister Deborah, Deborah Vanessa
EducationWesley Girls' High School
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Bachelor's Degree)
University of the Arts London (Master Degree)
Occupation(s)Television presenter, model, academic
Years active1994–present

Deborah Owusu-Bonsu (born 25 August 1984) better known by her stage name as Sister Derby or Sister Deborah[1] is a Ghanaian-Romanian television presenter, musician and model of Akan origin and a former presenter at e.tv Ghana.[2]

Early life and education

Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was born on 25 th August, 1984, to an Ashanti father and a Romanian mother. Both of her parents were collectors of world music and art. She is a television show host, model, musician, academic, and graphic artist.[3] Owusu-Bonsu is the sister of popular hip life musician Wanlov the Kubolor who starred in the film Coz Ov MDeborah oni.[3] Owusu-Bonsu attended Christ the King International School, then Wesley Girls' High School.[3] She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Publishing Studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology followed by a Master Degree in Book/Journal Publishing from the University of the Arts London.[3]

Professional career

In 2012, Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu recorded and released a single (music) entitled 'Uncle Obama' referring to Barack Obama in which was covered by United States television network CNN.[4] Since 2012, Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was the host of The Late Nite Celebrity Show program broadcast by television network e.tv Ghana.[5] She later moved to GHOne Television where she hosted her show, Gliterrati for a brief period before handing over to Berla Mundi.[6]

Ghana Jollof

In the mid 2010 when the competition among West Africans about whose Jollof rice was better, expanded into the "Jollof Wars".[7] The "Jollof War" competition is especially prominent between Nigeria and Ghana.[8][9][10] In 2016 Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu released "Ghana Jollof", which poked fun at the Nigerian version and at Nigerians for being proud of their version.[11]

Personal life

She dated rapper Medikal for three years, before breaking up in 2018.[12][13] Shortly after she introduced one David as her new partner but shortly after that relationship ended.[14]

Activism

Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu has been actively involved in sanitation and recycling campaigns using her music. In 2018, she made a call on the government of Ghana to ban the use of plastic bags.[15] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her brother (Wanlov the Kubolor) made nosemasks from recycled secondhand clothing to help reduce clothing waste from dumpsites and the sea.[16][17]

Owusu-Bonsu has also been vocal about the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Ghana. In 2021, she spoke against the Ghanaian anti-LGBT bill and the shutting down of the LGBT+ Rights Ghana office.[18][19][20] She also featured on Angel Maxine's Kill The Bill and Wo Fie, which used music to advocate for the rights of LGBT+ individuals in Ghana.[21][22][23]

Discography

Singles

Year Title Artist
2012 Uncle Obama Sister Deborah ft (FOKN Bois)
2015 Kikoliko Sister Deborah ft (Joey B)[24][25][26]
2016 Ghana Jollof Sister Deborah[11]
2017 Sampanana Sister Deborah ft (Medikal)[27][28]
2018 Pure Water Sister Deborah ft (Efya)[29][30][31]
2018 Kakalika Love Sister Deborah ft (Efo Chameleon)[32][33]
2019 Libilibi Sister Deborah ft (Yaa Pono)[34]

References

  1. ^ "Sister Deborah was shocked when I called to ask for a feature – Medikal". GhanaWeb. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  2. ^ Mensah, Jeffrey (11 October 2019). "Meet Sister Derby and Wanlov's beautiful 65-year-old 'obroni' mother". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu Uncovered!". atghana. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Deborah Vanessa Drops Single 'Uncle Obama'". Viasat 1. 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Deborah Vanessa wins Fashion 101 top prize". etvghana.com. E.tv Ghana. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Confirmed: Deborah Vanessa and Medikal are dating". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2 August 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "West Africa steams over jollof rice war". BBC News. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  8. ^ Oderinde, Busayo (5 July 2015). "Busayo Oderinde: The Nigerian Versus Ghanaian Jollof Rice Debate". Bella Naija. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Know the Differences Between Nigerian and Ghanaian Jollof Rice". Demand Africa. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ Adam, Hakeem (20 January 2017). "A Brief History of Jollof Rice, a West African Favourite". Culture Trip. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  11. ^ a b Egbejule, Eromo (22 August 2016). "World Jollof Day: Jamie Oliver's #ricegate and other scandals". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Medikal finally confirms breakup with Sister Debbie". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 23 March 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Deborah Vanessa confirms break-up with Medikal". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  14. ^ https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/sister-derby-im-done-with-men-they-just-break-my-heart.html
  15. ^ "Sister Derby calls on government to ban plastic bags". GhanaWeb. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Wanlov, Sister Derby make face masks from recycled second-hand clothes - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  17. ^ Adu, Dennis (26 March 2020). "Wanlov, Sister Derby make face masks from recycled second-hand clothes [Video]". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  18. ^ "'LGBTQ members must be protected from bloodclarts like you' – Sister Derby attacks critics". GhanaWeb. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  19. ^ Arthur, Erica Nana (23 July 2021). "Your fight against LGBTQ rights shameful, backward - Sister Derby to Sam George — Starr Fm". Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Pappy Kojo, Sam George Fight On Twitter". DailyGuide Network. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  21. ^ moshood (28 October 2021). "Becoming Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician". African Arguments. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Ghanaians condemn my hit song because it rebukes their 'hate' for gays – Transgender artiste, Angel Maxine - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Ghana's first openly trans musician fights homophobia with song". Reuters. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  24. ^ Dwomoh, Bright (24 November 2015). "Sister Deborah – Kikoliko (ft Joey B) - GhanaSongs.com - Ghana Music Downloads". Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  25. ^ Adinkra, Fiifi (23 November 2015). "Sister Deborah – Kikoliko (Feat. Joey B)". GhanaNdwom.net. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  26. ^ Mawuli, David (23 November 2015). "Sister Deborah - Kikoliko feat. Joey B". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Sister Debora and Medikal release 'Sampanana'". GhanaWeb. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  28. ^ "They're Back! Sister Deborah Drops 'Sampanana' Music Video Featuring Boyfriend, Medikal | AmeyawDebrah.com". 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Sister Deborah shares new music video 'Pure Water' featuring Efya". GhanaWeb. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  30. ^ Ranger, Lone (23 May 2018). "Sister Deborah ft Efya - Pure Water (Prod. by Jeri Beatz)". DCLeakers.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  31. ^ Music, Worla Quist, Ghana (28 May 2018). "Audio: Pure Water by Sister Deborah feat. Efya". Ghana Music. Retrieved 7 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "Sister Derby joins top trends with 'Kakalika Love'". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  33. ^ CratesHub, Alloh. "Sister Deborah ft Efo Chameleon – Kakalika Love (Prod. by Jeribeatz)". CratesHub.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  34. ^ Wonah, Israel. "Sister Deborah - Libilibi ft Yaa Pono Mp3 Download » TrendyBeatz". trendybeatz.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.