In a night brimming with glitz, glamour, and musical excellence, a moment of complete silence spoke the loudest.
Ghanaian rapper Tulenkey stunned attendees and viewers at the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs) when he appeared on stage in an all-black suit with his mouth covered in black masking tape.
The unconventional appearance sparked curiosity and speculation across social media and entertainment circles.
Tulenkey, known for his lyrical prowess and thought-provoking content, chose not to speak at the ceremony, instead communicating solely through gestures, even when accepting the coveted award for Best Hiplife Song.
Now, the rapper has broken his silence—symbolically, at least. In an exclusive interview with 3FM, Tulenkey revealed the deeply personal and socially relevant inspiration behind the symbolic act.
“It’s a message,” he said. “It speaks of what men go through—the inner battles we fight. Because being a man, when you are vulnerable, when you talk about your emotions, you are seen as weak. So they would rather die inside than let it out. The tape symbolised suffering in silence.”
Tulenkey’s powerful message sheds light on a subject often swept under the rug in Ghanaian and wider African society: men’s mental health.
