The former Ghanaian dancehall icon Kaakie has swapped the microphone for mental health care, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) qualification and launching her own mental health practice in the United States.
From Nursing Student to Dancehall Star
Born Grace Kaki Awo Ocansey, she began her career studying nursing and midwifery at the University of Ghana before gaining public attention as a contestant on the television music competition Stars of the Future, where she finished fifth. The exposure led to a professional music career and a signing with Xtra Large Music under producer JMJ.
Music Career Highlights
Kaakie released several hits, including “Ewoo,” “Too Much,” “Toffee Pon Tongue,” and “Zuuchia.” She earned Best New Artiste of the Year and Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year at the 2013 Ghana Music Awards.
- Best New Artiste of the Year – 2013 Ghana Music Awards
- Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – 2013 Ghana Music Awards
Even while touring, she continued working as a registered general nurse, a fact she discussed in a 2014 interview with Graphic Showbiz.
Transition to Mental Health
Kaakie stepped away from music to focus on healthcare, earning a master’s degree from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom in 2019. In 2020, she told Joy FM that her passion for maternal health had eclipsed her desire to continue making music. The next year, she announced a Master of Science in Nursing with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialisation from Walden University.
Her latest qualification, the Doctor of Nursing Practice, places her at the doctoral level of nursing education and establishes her as a board‑certified psychiatric‑mental health nurse practitioner.
Launching Kaylora Holistic Wellness & Recovery
Dr. Grace Aidoo, DNP, APRN, PMHNP‑BC, founded Kaylora Holistic Wellness & Recovery, a U.S.‑based practice offering psychiatric and therapeutic services. The launch marks a significant transformation for an artist who once dominated Ghana’s dancehall scene.
For fans who remember her as the “Dancehall Queen,” Dr. Grace Aidoo’s new venture signals a fresh chapter that blends her public profile with a commitment to mental well‑being.
Source: Graphic Online
