When Ghanaian singer-songwriter Gyakie sat down in studio to record a song that wasn’t even meant for her album, she had no idea it would become the lead single for her upcoming debut. Titled “Sankofa”, the word is derived from one of the powerful Adinkra symbols, which originates from the Akan people of Ghana and means “to go back and take something from the past” or “to go back and fix something from the past.”
But Gyakie flips that meaning on its head.
“In this song, I’m saying the opposite,” she says. “It’s about not wanting to go back. It’s about making sure that what I have now is good enough, so I don’t have to return to what I left behind.”
“In the second verse, I’m talking about not settling for less. Even if you feel like you’ve found the one, if he doesn’t do right by you, you move on,” she says, adding that Sankofa is a song of inspiration and empowerment.
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The song may have come to life quickly, but the album it introduces has been in the works for over three years. Titled After Midnight, Gyakie’s debut album feels soft and deep, like the quiet hours it’s named after.
“There’s a stillness after midnight,” Gyakie reflects. “That calm, reflective feeling — that’s the energy of this album.”
Everything about After Midnight was made with care, from when most of the songs were recorded—literally after midnight—to the deliberate order of the 17 songs, each chosen to carry listeners through different moods: day or night, happy or sad.
The album is an ode to cherished personal and family traditions, like her mother praying for her and her siblings, or the solitude and clarity that night brings.
“It’s tested and approved,” Gyakie says with a laugh. “I listened to it in every mood. It works.”
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And it had to be 17 tracks — no more, no less. After years of recording and stockpiling music, picking the right songs wasn’t easy. But the ones that made the cut stood out for their completeness.
“If a song had the right message, the perfect production, and the right feel, it made it,” she says. “Each one had to be flawless in its own way.”
Still, “Sankofa”, the last song to join the lineup, is the one that felt most right to open the chapter.
“When I played it for my manager, I could see from his reaction,” Gyakie recalls. “We both knew. This one, this is the one that’s going to introduce the album.”
The album is due to drop at the end of August.
Gyakie has grown, and she knows it. She’s not the same woman who dropped Seed or My Diary.
“Even my body is different. But more than that, my creativity and my mind — they’ve all grown. I’ve spent time learning. Reading. Traveling. I used to just stay indoors when I went to new places. Now I go out, I explore. It’s helped my music so much.”
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She hopes the album travels even further than she has. Of course, she wants it to do well, to build her legacy, and to reach new ears across the world. But at the core, Gyakie is grateful.
“I’ve worked hard on this, and I’m proud. I’ve done what I came here to do.”
And when asked why she still chooses music — even after years in the game, even through doubt and pressure — her answer is as heartfelt as her lyrics.
“It’s the people,” she says. “I know there’s someone who checks my page hoping for new music. Someone who finds peace in my songs. I may not know them personally, but they’re the reason I keep going.”
With “Sankofa” leading the way, Gyakie’s After Midnight feels like more than just an album. It’s a reminder to honour your growth, trust your timing and never be afraid to turn the page — or, in her case, sing a brand-new verse.
