Joseph Awuah-Darko, popularly known as Okuntakinte, is a 28-year-old artist of Ghanaian descent, born and raised in London.
His stage name, Okuntakinte, was inspired by his childhood discovery of Alex Haley’s novel Roots, which features the character Kunta Kinte, a Gambian man who was enslaved but fiercely resisted his captivity.
Okuntakinte was born in Middlesex, London, before moving with his family to Ghana, where he attended Ghana International School. It was during his days at the Ghana International School that his passion for music and art began, greatly influenced by a standout performance of the Ghanaian National Anthem during a visit by then U.S. President George Bush in 2008.
In his past social media posts, he revealed the painful truth of having to confide in his mother about a traumatic three-year ordeal of sexual abuse by his math tutor during his youth, a violation that he says violently stole his childhood.
After completing his studies in Liberal Arts at Ashesi University, Joseph Awuah-Darko launched his music career with the release of his first single, Melanin Girls, on January 29, 2016. The young artist soon found himself at the center of controversy when allegations of financial misconduct surfaced.
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His Crisis and Controversy
Okuntakinte was sued by Ghanaian artist Foster Sakyiamah for allegedly withholding $266,527.03 from art sales managed through his agency, JAD Advisory, under the Noldor Artist Residency. The case, filed in the Accra courts, detailed how Awuah-Darko had discovered Sakyiamah’s work on Instagram during the summer of 2021, describing it as striking for its vibrantly colored abstract figures and signature curved linear patterns. However
On December 6, 2024, Okuntakinte made a public and deeply personal declaration on his plans to undergo assisted euthanasia in the Netherlands.
Later on, December 9, he launched what would become one of the most emotionally charged and talked-about art projects of the year, The Last Supper Project. Through social media, he invited strangers around the world to share a meal and conversation with him before his final goodbye.
By June 2025, however, the narrative began to unravel. In an interview with Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, Okuntakinte admitted he had not officially initiated the euthanasia process and that he hadn’t seen a psychiatrist in over three years and that he was not taking prescribed medication two fundamental prerequisites for approval under Dutch euthanasia law.
The Last Supper Project
Despite the backlash, Okuntakinte remained committed to the project, completing more than 147 intimate dinners. Among the many participants, one notable invitation stood out: American singer SZA publicly welcomed him into her home after being moved by the vulnerability and emotional depth of his work, adding a poignant layer to a story already steeped in human complexity.
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Despite his widely publicized intention to undergo assisted euthanasia in the Netherlands, Ghanaian artist Okuntakinte never formally began the legal process.
Further complicating his situation, he later disclosed that he had been detained at the German border, revealing that he was undocumented and lacked legal residency in the Netherlands. These admissions significantly undermined the practicality and credibility of his initial euthanasia plan.
Okuntakinte later announced that he had found new meaning in life, to mark a dramatic turn of events in his story.
In a Substack post titled “Dear Mummy, I’m Engaged”, he shared that he is now engaged to his partner, Alexandre someone who also lives with serious health conditions.
Their relationship, built on mutual vulnerability and compassion, has given him renewed purpose and a reason to keep living. “I know I’m allowed to change my mind,” he wrote, acknowledging the profound shift in his perspective and expressing gratitude for the connections he’s made around the world through The Last Supper Project.
Today, Okuntakinte continues to share glimpses of this new chapter. In a recent social media update, he announced that he and his fiancé are preparing to meet with an immigration lawyer, something he described as a long-standing item on his bucket list.
The man who once planned to die on July 31 now appears to be choosing life, charting a new course toward stability, love, and legal belonging in the country where he once sought an end.
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PHOTO/OKUNTAKINTE(X)
