M.anifest, the Ghanaian-born rapper and producer moved to the U.S. in 2001 to attend Macalester College in Minneapolis. Since completing his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in 2005, M.anifest has split his time between Ghana and the States. In the 2023 collaboration with South African artist A-Reece “WEST AFRICA TIME,” M.anifest points to influences from both Ghana and the U.S.
In the first verse, he discusses that he’s “here to continue the legacy of the dream like Coretta,” pointing to the work of Dr. King to advance racial equality in the U.S. This particular bar could also be a nod to the harsh discrimination African migrants face upon moving to the States which can come as a shock to some. He also mentions wearing the jersey of Kobe Bryant, a basketball player and prominent figure in American popular culture.
M.anifest then switches the discussion to Ghana. He mentions that he realizes that he’s a role model for all the boys still in Africa, but that this pressure is becoming too taxing. He sees himself as the “God MC” in Ghana, but in the U.S. he must attain a greater financial status to truly be recognized. Through “WEST AFRICA TIME,” M.anifest contends the measures for success are completely different in Ghana and the U.S. He argues success in Ghana is about longevity in reputation whereas the U.S.’s focus is on stock market, purely capital success. Despite these differences, M.anifest has managed to maintain his ties to Ghana while gaining recognition as an artist stateside. City Pages Magazine in his adopted home of Minneapolis even awarded M.anifest Songwriter of the Year early in his music career. He has been able to embrace differing aspects of his identity within his artistry. Songs like “WEST AFRICA TIME” and others from M.anifest’s discography like “Coming to America” and “Suffer” exemplify the rapper’s impressive skill in portraying realities for those with transnational identities.
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