Ghanaian Artist Who Planned Euthanasia 31 Calls It Off After Engagement

Joseph Awuah-Darko, popularly generally known as Okuntakinte, is a 28-year-old artist of Ghanaian descent, born and raised in London.

His stage identify, Okuntakinte, was impressed by his childhood discovery of Alex Haley’s novel Roots, which options the character Kunta Kinte, a Gambian man who was enslaved however fiercely resisted his captivity.

Okuntakinte was born in Middlesex, London, earlier than shifting along with his household to Ghana, the place he attended Ghana International School. It was throughout his days on the Ghana International School that his ardour for music and artwork started, vastly influenced by a standout efficiency of the Ghanaian National Anthem throughout a go to by then U.S. President George Bush in 2008.

In his previous social media posts, he revealed the painful reality of getting to speak in confidence to his mom a couple of traumatic three-year ordeal of sexual abuse by his math tutor throughout his youth, a violation that he says violently stole his childhood.

After finishing his research in Liberal Arts at Ashesi University, Joseph Awuah-Darko launched his music profession with the discharge of his first single, Melanin Girls, on January 29, 2016. The younger artist quickly discovered himself on the heart of controversy when allegations of economic misconduct surfaced.

His Crisis and Controversy

Okuntakinte was sued by Ghanaian artist Foster Sakyiamah for allegedly withholding $266,527.03 from artwork gross sales managed via his company, JAD Advisory, beneath the Noldor Artist Residency. The case, filed within the Accra courts, detailed how Awuah-Darko had found Sakyiamah’s work on Instagram through the summer time of 2021, describing it as hanging for its vibrantly coloured summary figures and signature curved linear patterns. However

On December 6, 2024, Okuntakinte made a public and deeply private declaration on his plans to endure assisted euthanasia within the Netherlands.

Later on, December 9, he launched what would turn into probably the most emotionally charged and talked-about artwork initiatives of the 12 months, The Last Supper Project. Through social media, he invited strangers world wide to share a meal and dialog with him earlier than his remaining goodbye.

By June 2025, nevertheless, the narrative started to unravel. In an interview with Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, Okuntakinte admitted he had not formally initiated the euthanasia course of and that he hadn’t seen a psychiatrist in over three years and that he was not taking prescribed treatment two basic conditions for approval beneath Dutch euthanasia regulation.

The Last Supper Project

Despite the backlash, Okuntakinte remained dedicated to the mission, finishing greater than 147 intimate dinners. Among the various individuals, one notable invitation stood out: American singer SZA publicly welcomed him into her house after being moved by the vulnerability and emotional depth of his work, including a poignant layer to a narrative already steeped in human complexity.

Despite his extensively publicized intention to endure assisted euthanasia within the Netherlands, Ghanaian artist Okuntakinte by no means formally started the authorized course of. 

Further complicating his scenario, he later disclosed that he had been detained on the German border, revealing that he was undocumented and lacked authorized residency within the Netherlands. These admissions considerably undermined the practicality and credibility of his preliminary euthanasia plan.

Okuntakinte later introduced that he had discovered new which means in life, to mark a dramatic flip of occasions in his story.

In a Substack put up titled “Dear Mummy, I’m Engaged”, he shared that he’s now engaged to his associate, Alexandre somebody who additionally lives with critical well being situations.

Their relationship, constructed on mutual vulnerability and compassion, has given him renewed goal and a purpose to maintain dwelling. “I do know I’m allowed to vary my thoughts,” he wrote, acknowledging the profound shift in his perspective and expressing gratitude for the connections he’s made world wide via The Last Supper Project.

Today, Okuntakinte continues to share glimpses of this new chapter. In a latest social media replace, he introduced that he and his fiancé are getting ready to fulfill with an immigration lawyer, one thing he described as a long-standing merchandise on his bucket record.

The man who as soon as deliberate to die on July 31 now seems to be selecting life, charting a brand new course towards stability, love, and authorized belonging within the nation the place he as soon as sought an finish.