Sleeping Rough in Ghana Before Afro-Dancehall Fame

Patoranking, whose full name is Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, is a Nigerian singer who was born in Lagos and grew up in Ilaje Ebute Metta, an area he describes as a ghetto. He has said the neighbourhood shaped him and prepared him for the person he became. As a young man he loved both music and football, and he began as a dancer at carnivals and street jams before he started to sing.

Money was tight at home. He was admitted to the University of Cape Coast in Ghana but could not take up the place because his parents were struggling financially, and he decided to pursue music full-time instead. He spent time in Ghana, where he became absorbed in the local dancehall and reggae scene.

His stay there was far from comfortable. He told Cool FM that he went to Ghana looking for better opportunities but ended up trekking long distances and sleeping on the streets. The sources do not give exact dates or say how long this lasted. After this, he went back to Nigeria.

There his fortunes turned. He released songs including Alubarika, featuring Timaya, and Girlie O, and he said both became hits. He described Alubarika as the song that put him out there, and he spoke of wanting to move from nothing to something. Ghana later welcomed him back in a different way: he was invited to perform at Kumasi Stadium, and he recalled being surprised and grateful when 13 cars arrived to collect him. He has since released three albums and many singles.