Ghanaian musician and cultural leader Sparqlyn, born Ahmmed Kanneh Larweh, has been honored with the African Best Ghanaian Musician of the Year 2025 award at the prestigious African Performance Leadership Awards (APLA). The ceremony was held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at the Olumo Hall of the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Organized by the African Performance Leadership Academy in collaboration with EYE TV Africa, the APLA Awards recognize individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to music, leadership, and development across Africa. Sparqlyn’s win acknowledges his continued excellence in Ghana’s music industry and his broader social impact.
Sparqlyn, a veteran of more than 20 years in the music scene, first gained national attention as a founding member of the influential Hiplife group Dunsin. After years of group success, he launched a solo career in 2018 that has seen him release popular singles including Jump On Me, Your Body, and Tumpa. These tracks have garnered international attention and expanded his audience well beyond Ghana’s borders.
His success in music is matched by his leadership in traditional and social development roles. Sparqlyn currently serves as the Development Chief of the Manya Krobo traditional area under the title Nene Kanneh Larweh I, Noryam Matse. In this position, he has been instrumental in implementing scholarship schemes for disadvantaged youth, promoting cultural unity among the Ga-Adangbe people, and supporting developmental initiatives in collaboration with traditional authorities.
In March 2025, his influence was further acknowledged by the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), which presented him with two awards and a special citation during the Akwaaba Festival. That recognition from his home country, combined with his APLA honor, reinforces his standing as a prominent cultural figure both locally and continentally.
Sparqlyn’s latest accolade places him among an elite group of Ghanaians recognized at the 2025 APLA ceremony. Other honorees included President John Dramani Mahama, Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, actress Juliet Ibrahim, Ambassador Dr. Sam Owusu, and the Agricultural Development Bank Ghana. Each was recognized for their outstanding contributions in their respective sectors, ranging from governance and entertainment to finance and diplomacy.
The awards ceremony was presided over by His Emperor Majesty, Ambassador Dr. King Nkosinathi Eugene Mahlangu, Bongwe II of the Ndebele Kingdom in South Africa. The event also featured keynote speeches from notable African thought leaders such as Dr. Shuaibu Danwakan and Ambassador Dr. Joseph Anthony Carew, who addressed vital issues confronting the continent, including climate change adaptation, terrorism, and governance challenges.
The event brought together cultural icons, policymakers, musicians, and civic leaders from across Africa. Attendees celebrated individuals who are not only leading in their fields but also serving as role models committed to progress, unity, and social transformation on the continent.
Sparqlyn’s award at the APLA 2025 is a significant milestone in a career that has seamlessly blended musical achievement with traditional leadership. It underscores his dual influence as both a performer and a changemaker committed to the cultural and social advancement of Ghana and Africa at large.
