Irene Logan (born February 16, 1984) is a Liberian-born Ghanaian singer, songwriter, philanthropist and entrepreneur. She was just a child in the early 1990s when her family moved to Ghana in search of refuge from the Liberian civil war. Irene broke out onto the music scene in 2006 where she won the maiden edition of "Stars of the Future".
Early life
Irene Elizabeth Grace Logan was born on February 16, 1984, in
Monrovia
Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As the ...
, Liberia, to Tina Logan, a teacher and Gospel singer, and Thomas Logan, an accountant and musician. Logan lost her father when she was two months old due to an illness; he was 25 years old. Her mother and her fled to
Accra
Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...
in search of refuge during the
First Liberian Civil War
The First Liberian Civil War lasted from 1989 to 1997.
President Samuel Doe had established a regime in 1980 but totalitarianism and corruption led to unpopularity and the withdrawal of support from the United States by the late 1980s. The Nat ...
.
Logan attended
Achimota School
Achimota School ( /ɑːtʃimoʊtɑː/ ), formerly Prince of Wales College and School at Achimota, later Achimota College, now nicknamed Motown, is a co-educational boarding school located at Achimota in Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana. The school wa ...
in 2003, studying literature, history, and music. She sang in the school's choir and performed for the school at national events. She was also an executive for the writers and debaters club during her time in Senior High School. Logan was a marketing major at Zenith College, but left her second year to pursue a career in music.
Music career
Logan won the first season of ''Stars of the Future'' in 2006. Her debut single "Runaway" became a hit in Ghana. Her follow-up single "Kabila" also gained recognition. She recorded the song "My Mind Dey", which was used as the soundtrack for the film series ''
Adams Apples
''Adams Apples'' is a Ghanaian film series, starring Yvonne Okoro, Joselyn Dumas, John Dumelo, Naa Ashorkor Mensa-Doku, Joyce Anima Misa Amoah, Anima Misa Amoah, Adjetey Anang, Helene Asante, SoulKnight Jazz, Jasmine Baroudi, Vincent McCauley, Ro ...
''. Logan has performed on many local and international stages within Africa and abroad alongside artists such as
Hugh Masakela
Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...
,
Lagbaja
Bisade Ologunde (in Lagos, 1960) is a Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter and percussionist. Widely known as Lágbájá for his signature use of mask which covers his identity. He believes in social reform through music.
Early life and ...
,
Jay
A jay is a member of a number of species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the Crow family, Corvidae. The evolutionary relationships between the jays and the magpies are rather complex. For example, the Eurasi ...
Z, and
Beenie Man
Anthony Moses Davis (born 22 August 1973), better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Jamaican Dancehall deejay.
Biography
Davis was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973.Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Mus ...
, among others.
In recent years, Logan has transitioned to making Gospel music.
Irene and Jane
Irene Logan met
Efya
Jane Awindor (born April 10, 1987), better known by her stage name Efya, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and actress from Kumasi. She is the daughter of Nana Adwoa Awindor, a filmmaker and celebrity host of the late television show ''Greetings ...
on the ''Stars of the Future'' television show. Following the show's conclusion, the two women formed the music duo, Irene & Jane. The duo released their 2009 collaborative album ''Unveiled'', which included the songs "Baby" and "Heated Up". They received a nomination at the 2008
Channel O music video awards
Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, once known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards, are Pan-African music awards organised by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video A ...
. Logan won Best Female Vocalist at the 2007
Ghana Music Awards
The Ghana Music Awards, currently known as the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music awards event in Ghana established in 1999 by a local event organizer and planner company known as CharterHouse to origi ...
, and was nominated for a
Kora Award
The KORA All Africa Music Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. The awards were founded in 1994 by Benin born businessman, Ernest Adjovi, after a discussion in Namibia with the country's President H ...
in 2008.
Business and philanthropy
Logan is the CEO and creative director of Tribassa Limited, an African-inspired luxury lifestyle brand. Logan is passionate about giving back to her society, and has volunteered her time to several humanitarian causes. She started the "I am the Future" initiative and partnered with the UNHCR to inspire and assist young men and women in discovering ways to positively impact their communities.
Previous Affiliations
*MTN Ambassador 2006
*
Globacom
Globacom Limited, commonly known as Glo (Global communication), is a Nigerian multinational telecommunications company founded on 29 August 2003 by Mike Adenuga. As of June 2018, the company employs more than 3,500 people worldwide.
Overview ...
Limited (Glo) Ambassador 2009
*
UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...
Ambassador 2010
Notable performances
# Opening act for
Beenie Man
Anthony Moses Davis (born 22 August 1973), better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Jamaican Dancehall deejay.
Biography
Davis was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973.Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Mus ...
at
Accra International Conference Centre
The Accra International Conference Centre is an events venue in Accra, Ghana. Other venues include the Ghana Trade Fair Center and the National Theatre, but the Conference Centre is the most popular due to its size and capacity as compared to th ...
in 2005
#Channel O Music Video Awards 2006
#Opened performance for American Hip Hop star
Jay Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
at
Accra International Conference Centre
The Accra International Conference Centre is an events venue in Accra, Ghana. Other venues include the Ghana Trade Fair Center and the National Theatre, but the Conference Centre is the most popular due to its size and capacity as compared to th ...
in 2006
#Performed at Big Brother Africa show in 2008
#Kora Awards 2007
#Ghana Music Awards 2008
#My Mind Dey song featured in Ghanaian popular Soap Opera
Adams Apples
''Adams Apples'' is a Ghanaian film series, starring Yvonne Okoro, Joselyn Dumas, John Dumelo, Naa Ashorkor Mensa-Doku, Joyce Anima Misa Amoah, Anima Misa Amoah, Adjetey Anang, Helene Asante, SoulKnight Jazz, Jasmine Baroudi, Vincent McCauley, Ro ...
#Performed at Ghana
Radio and Television Personality Awards
The Radio and Television Personality (RTP) Awards are an annual awards ceremony for radio and television in Ghana.
The RTP Awards, organized by Big Events Ghana, were first announced in January 2011. The first RTP awards show was held in June 2011 ...
in 2012
# Guest Performance at Glo xfactor in 2013
# Performed Andy Williams’ ‘The Impossible Dream’ at the funeral of the late former president, Jerry John Rawlings (2021)
#Performed the "Star Spangled Banner" representing Ghana in celebration of the 4th of July Independence Day (2021)
#Performed at the GUBA 2021 awards held in Ghana
Discography
Album
Unveiled (2009)
Singles
# Irene Logan ft Wiyaala – Conga - 2016
#Irene Logan – Medowo – 2015
# Irene Logan - I fell in love with a devil - 2014
# Irene Logan - Na Me Dey There – 2014
# Irene Logan – SA - 2014
# Irene Logan - Stay cover – 2014
# Irene Logan - Akwasi Casanova – 2013
# Irene Logan – Emperor – 2011
# Irene Logan ft Asem - My Mind Dey – 2011
# Irene Logan – Kabila – 2009
# Irene Logan ft Asem – Runaway - 2009
# Irene Logan - More (2022)
Guest appearances/features
*"Ghetto Love" by
stonebwoy
Livingstone Etse Satekla (born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician.
He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 201 ...
ft. Irene Logan
*"Mr Versatile" by
Okyeame kwame
Kwame Nsiah-Apau (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Okyeame Kwame and nicknamed Rap Doctor, is a Ghanaian musician, songwriter, creative director and entrepreneur.
Life and career Early life
Apau was born in Kumasi, Ashanti Region ...
ft. Irene Logan
*"Power to Win" with M.I.,
Flavour and Kwabena Kwabena
*"Runaway" by Asem ft. Irene Logan
*Asem ft Irene Logan – 1000 fights and make up
*"Na me dey der" by Asem ft Irene Logan
*Trigmatic ft Irene Logan – Light and darkness
*Eric Jeshrun - Satisfy Ft. Irene Logan
Videography
# Irene Logan feat.
Bisa KDei
Ronald Kwaku Dei Appiah better known by his stage name Bisa Kdei is a Ghanaian native solo singer and record producer from Eastern Region.
Music career
Bisa Kdei is the first Ghanaian artiste to break into the limelight with a movie soundtra ...
- My Mind Dey
#Irene Logan - I fell in love with a "Devil"
#Irene Logan - My Mind Dey
Filmography
* Adams Apples (2012)
* Fix US (2019)
Awards and nominations
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Logan, Irene
1984 births
Living people
Liberian singers
Liberian songwriters
Musicians from Monrovia