“AMBASSADAR” Ghanaian Hip-Life Musician

Ghanaian artist, Relwan Shalima Adam has been a performer from his early childhood when he was crowned the “Ambassador” of dance by his peers during his junior secondary school days in Nigeria. From that point he has carried the title and is known by that name.

Ambassadar began his professional career in 1995, at the age of sixteen with an organization called Agoro, Centre for Intercultural Learning and Talent Development. He joined the institution as an already talented dancer, affiliated with a group know as the “Work Dancers”. Over the years Ambassadar distinguished himself as a skilled drummer and is known as one of the greatest percussionists in the Central Region of Ghana.

During his time with the Cultural institution, he performed in showcases throughout Ghana; he has taught dance and traditional instrument workshops to local and tourist groups.

In 1998 Ambassadar joined together with two other young men to form the group, “TTL”, Teachers of The Law. This group emerged as one of the premier “Hip-Life” groups in Ghana. (Hip-Life is a musical form that evolved from Ghana’s traditional High Life and Hip-Hop music combined.)

In 2001 Ambassadar released his first solo album entitled “Visa”. It gained a great deal of success which landed him performances before an international audience during PanaFest in summer 2001.  Due to the national success of the first album, fans greatly anticipated his subsequent recording, “Faadwen” (Think) in 2003.

Ambassadar took a hiatus from music to work as a youth advocate and activist to give back to his community. He organized Community clean-up campaigns, primary school competitions on the topic of AIDS/HIV awareness, showcased local talents in the fields of music, fashion, modeling and acting. He works with aspiring Hip Life artists in his home town of Cape Coast developing their musical, vocal, dancing and overall performance skills. During this time, he continued to perform with the bi-yearly PanaFest where he has shared the stage with international artists such as Public Enemy, Hugh Masekela and James Kenin.

In 2007 Ambassadar released his third album “Meti Bom” (I’m Going Crazy). It has acclaimed rave reviews from both American and European Hip Hop musicians.

Ambassadar’s dream is to bring the youth of his village of Cape Coast to the forefront in the musical genre of Hip Life. To this day, he is the only artist in Cape Coast, Central Region of Ghana, to record a Hip Life album that has gained national exposure.

To crown this title, Ambassadar’s latest community effort was through his non-profit organization Rhyme and Reason Foundation. He produced a talent showcase, “Stardom”, a four week long, musical competition. The first place winner was awarded a free recording contract for a full length album and the following four places record a single recording on a compilation album.

In addition to his education in the school of life, Ambassadar completed his post secondary education at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He studied Music Theory of Traditional Ghanaian Drumming and Dancing, and the History of West African Music, where he acquired the oral traditional skills of African Story Telling and Performing Arts Proficiency with a concentration in Music.

With his unique traditional dress and dance fused with his various musical styles, including modern hip hop, indigenous music, reggae, and his multilingual lyrical style, and with his larger than life personality, Ambassadar brings the old and new worlds together. He is an International phenomenon at the threshold of eruption.