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Pioneer British rapper Sway DaSafo, first unsigned act to win a major British music honour, dies aged 44 in Ghana

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Sway Dasafo, who signed to Akon's Konvict Music label alongside T-Pain and Lady Gaga and later appeared as an actor in Top Boy, has died aged 44 at his home in Ghana.
Sway Dasafo, who signed to Akon's Konvict Music label alongside T-Pain and Lady Gaga and later appeared as an actor in Top Boy, has died aged 44 at his home in Ghana.

Sway DaSafo, the British-Ghanaian rapper who beat 50 Cent and The Game to win the Mobo best hip-hop award in 2005 as an unsigned artist, has died at his home in Ghana aged 44. No cause of death has been confirmed, though he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010 and went into remission after treatment. KSI led tributes, crediting Sway with nurturing his music career when others dismissed him.

Born Derek Safo in north London to Ghanaian parents, Sway's debut album 'This Is My Demo' earned a Mercury Prize nomination alongside Arctic Monkeys in 2006.

KSI wrote: 'You believed in me when many didn't — you were one of a kind man. I wish you were still here.'

As well as his music career, Sway appeared as Ross Rosten in early episodes of crime drama 'Top Boy' and helped launch the careers of artists including KSI and Riz Ahmed.

MoreBBC NewsSway: Award-winning British rapper dies aged 44The IndependentBritish rapper Sway dies aged 44Evening StandardLondon rapper Sway Dasafo dies age 44 as KSI leads tributes to 'true legend'The SunTop Boy star & rapper dies aged 44 as KSI leads tributesDaily Mail AUMOBO Award-winning rapper and Top Boy star Sway DaSafo dies at aged 44Irish TimesSway: Mobo-winning British rapper dies aged 44
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