Legendary American singer Stevie Wonder was honoured with the best gift on his 74th birthday on Monday, when he was granted Ghanaian citizenship.
In 1975, the Grammy winner, born Steveland Morris, openly shared his wish to quit music and relocate to Ghana.
According to media reports, Stevie Wonder believed Ghana was where he could find his ancestral lineage.
After being granted the opportunity to headline a Ghanaian music festival in the 1990s, he again expressed his desire to set up shop there.
Racial injustice
He also shared three years ago that his desire to move to an African country was to also escape the racial injustice in the US.
In a video circulating on public platforms, the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, presented Stevie Wonder with his citizenship and a Ghanaian passport.
The ceremony took place at the Jubilee House, which is Ghana’s seat of government, signifying Stevie Wonder’s official integration into Ghanaian society.
On social media, Kow Essuman, who is the legal counsel to Akufo-Addo, congratulated the celebrated musician for embracing Ghanaian citizenship.
“Stevie Wonder is officially Ghanaian. He has just taken the oath of allegiance and received the certificate of citizenship by registration at Jubilee House. Congratulations, Sir, and welcome to Ghana,” he wrote.
Decorated career
Throughout his career, Stevie Wonder has been credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include R&B, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz.
Over the years, he has garnered 25 Grammy awards, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he was honoured with in 1996.
He collected an Academy Award for his 1984 hit, I Just Called to Say I Love You, from the film The Woman in Red.
In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1999, he became the youngest honoree of the Kennedy Centre Honours.
