5 of the best: The essential Ebony songs

She was talented, beautiful and controversial—all elements that had served her well in 2017, her breakout year, and would undoubtedly have continued to help her thrive. That dream has been denied all of her fans and family. The consolation of her music remains.

Below we track her rise through five essential tracks. For those who followed her career, the list will spark memories and perhaps thoughts of what might have been. For anyone—within or outside of Ghana—who have only heard about Ebony’s music upon her untimely death, this list is an introduction to what the fuss was about and why Ebony (16 February 1997 - 8 February 2018) was such a big deal.

1. Dancefloor (2015)

The year she turned 18, Ebony released ‘Dancefloor’, her first single. She had gotten signed by the famous musician Bullet to his Rufftown Records. Listeners—and watchers—were impressed enough for the song to get to the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards’ Unsung category. Clearly, she could sing, dance and was also in control of her own sexuality.

Although she says “I’m not the type of girl who falls for the dough and sleeps around”, in coming months, not without her help, the Ghanaian media would elect her as something of a sexually confident diva. By the release of the video for her second single, the more straightforward sex song 'Turn on the Light', in which she implores a lover to see her "good body shake", the controversial image had take hold.

2. Kupe (2016)

Kupe saw Ebony prove she could rock a proper Ghanaian pop beat. The song expresses a woman’s dissatisfaction at a lover who has made her a side-chick. “I want to be in charge,” she says over a compulsively danceable beat. Her answer to her lover's cheating ways is a surprise. 

As one writer puts it, "lamentations of regret and deceit, [feeds] a storyline [by a] lady whose only revenge to a cheating boyfriend is well deserved sex". In the song's video, her youth is evident—as is her apparent enjoyment of her own song. 'Kupe' and the more risque hit single 'Poison' form quite a pair.

3. Sponsor (2017)

Possibly her funniest and realest song, Sponsor has Ebony contemplating what to do about two lovers—an older rich man and a younger “broke” guy. At one point, she asks: “Should I leave all this Gucci, Prada? Na which young girl no dey fear hunger?”

Considering how popular this song turned out to be—it was the most played song on Ghana radio last year—there is a chance a good many people could relate with what Ebony phrases as a “dilemma…I’m in dilemma”. There is also a chance that 'Sponsor' is the song many would remember Ebony by.

4. Hustle ft Brella (2017)

Her controversial image got all of Ghana talking, but Ebony was loved by the streets because they could identify with her. On 'Hustle' she repays the streets by singing about their aspirations. For the video, she goes to the market. The glee on the face of the regular people in the video tells its own story.

5. Maame Hwe (2017)

Her most conscious song, 'Maawe Hwe' was a bit of a surprise for some because the video showed a covered Ebony. The song, which speaks against domestic violence, showed Ebony wasn’t all about the controversy. In the wake of her death, one of the more surprising tributes referenced this song. After expressing sadness at her demise, President Nana Akufo-Addo added: “My favourite track [was] on domestic violence and relationships, 'Maame Hwe'.”

The tweet was proof, if any was needed, that in her short time on earth and shorter time in the music industry, Ebony had produced work that connected with both the mighty and the masses.