Ghanaian singer and global music sensation Amaarae has shared that her very first music video was banned from television in Ghana because it included representation of the transgender community — a move that highlighted the challenges queer artists continue to face in conservative cultural spaces.
In a conversation with Tinashe for Rolling Stone’s “Musicians on Musicians” series, published on October 22, 2025, Amaarae reflected on how her identity and artistic expression intersect, and the personal conviction that guides her creative journey.
She explained that when she thinks about being African, queerness, and queer spaces, her mission has always been clear: to make people feel seen, heard, and protected. She said, “When I think about being African, queerness, and queer spaces, my mission and goal is to make people feel seen and protected.”
Amaarae went on to reveal that this has been her purpose from the start of her career. “I’ve been doing that from the very beginning,” she said, recalling that her first music video was banned on Ghanaian television precisely because of its representation of the trans community.
The singer noted that the ban, while disheartening, only reaffirmed her commitment to use her art as a tool for visibility, inclusion, and empowerment. Her work — from her bold fashion statements to her genre-bending sound — has consistently pushed boundaries, celebrating individuality and challenging restrictive social norms in Ghana and beyond.
Amaarae’s remarks underscore her long-standing advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility in African art and culture, and her belief that music can be both an act of resistance and a sanctuary for those living authentically.
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