Grandpa Records Founder Refigah Heviweit Makes History as 1st Kenyan to Win Kwame Nkrumah Award
- Former Grandpa Records CEO Refigah Heviweit (Yusuf Noah) was awarded the Kwame Nkrumah Medal of Honour in Accra, Ghana
- Refigah is the first Kenyan to receive this prestigious continental recognition for contributions to the creative economy
- In his emotional acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to the Kibra community, calling for Africa to move from consumption to creation
Veteran music executive and former CEO of Grandpa Records, Refigah Heviweit, has once again written his name in the annals of African history by becoming the first Kenyan to be awarded the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Medal of Honour.
Source: Instagram
The award, presented over the weekend in Accra, Ghana, recognises outstanding individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the advancement of Africa’s creative economy.
Who is Refigah Heviweit?
Refigah, whose real name is Yusuf Noah, is a pioneering force in East Africa’s entertainment landscape and is widely regarded as one of the most influential record label executives in the region.
As the former head of the iconic Grandpa Records, he was instrumental in launching and nurturing the careers of top Kenyan artistes, and has over time transformed into a global ambassador for the African creative industry.
Among his long list of accolades and trailblazing achievements, Refigah was notably the first African to make a significant breakthrough on YouTube, long before digital content creation became mainstream on the continent.
His early embrace of digital platforms inspired an entire generation of African creatives to take charge of their narratives and monetise their content globally.
Beyond the music scene, Refigah has made a seamless transition into advocacy, consulting, and policy influence.
He has consistently worked with government agencies, international development partners, and private sector stakeholders to create frameworks that support and scale the creative economy.
His involvement has included speaking at top conferences, participating in high-level roundtables, and pushing for the integration of creative industry policies into national development strategies.
Source: Instagram
Refigah speaks on pushing the Africa Forward agenda
Currently, Refigah is spearheading the African Creative Economy Database, a first-of-its-kind initiative to map, profile, and connect key players in Africa’s creative ecosystem.
The database is expected to provide insight into emerging innovation hubs, identify industry influencers, and drive investment into the continent’s creative space.
Upon receiving the award, Refigah took to the stage with a heartfelt message of hope and empowerment.
"I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this recognition. I dedicate this award to the Kibra community that raised me. Kibra instilled in me resilience, hard work, and the belief that no dream is too big,” he said, his voice filled with emotion.
“We must stop viewing ourselves only as consumers. We are creators, innovators, and storytellers. The creative economy is the heartbeat of a new Africa. By telling our own stories and building our industries, we will redefine how the world sees us — and how we see ourselves,” he added.
Refigah also used the opportunity to challenge African governments and institutions to invest more in youth talent, insisting that only through local platforms and authentic storytelling can Africa reclaim and reshape its global image.
Source: Instagram
Refigah wins another global leadership award
The Kwame Nkrumah Medal comes just four months after Refigah won another important award.
As we previously told you, he won the Global Change Makers Award on January 1, further reinforcing his growing influence in the global creative space.
Source: UGC
He has also been named a keynote speaker at the upcoming Creativity Conference 2025 in Seychelles and is scheduled to headline a Creative Economy Workshop in Lusaka, Zambia.
Refigah’s story is one of evolution, resilience, and vision. From steering the music charts as a record executive to crafting high-level economic blueprints for Africa’s creative future, he continues to be an inspiration.
"This is not the end, but a new beginning. I remain committed to serving, to building, and to championing Africa’s creative potential — for Kibra, for Kenya, and for the entire continent," he shared with TUKO.co.ke.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
