Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, better known as Patoranking, a multi-award-winning Nigerian artist, has revealed why he was unable to continue his tertiary study in Ghana. Despite being admitted to the University of Cape Coast, the Alubarika hitmaker was unable to progress since the fees for overseas students, such as himself, were paid in dollars. "Back then, international students at the University of Cape Coast were taxed in dollars," Patoranking recalled in an interview with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM's Daybreak Hitz. However, the singer was unaware that the currency and the quoted figure for the fees would have an impact on his enrollment in the school and progression to the next level of schooling. After receiving admission, he decided to call his father in Nigeria to tell him the good news. He had not anticipated the response. His father quickly quelled his exuberance, saying, "My son, I know this is what you want - to complete your studies at UCC, but you have siblings." It will be beneficial for them to experience secondary schooling."
His father's reaction irritated him, but he had little choice but to accept it and consider the next plausible option.
'I couldn't attend UCC because they charged international students in dollars,' Patoranking explained.
Patoranking in a previous incarnation. Photographer: @patorankingfire — Instagram
The 17-year-old boy's dreams were abruptly dashed. He had to find an alternative — something he excelled in at the time — and that was music.
'I couldn't go to UCC because they charged international students in dollars,' Patoranking Patoranking explained. Photographer: @patorankingfire — Instagram
He resolved to utilize music to transform his family's fate through determination and faith. In order to pursue music full-time, the Happy Day singer relocated from Cape Coast to Accra, Osu - a town that at the time had a large number of Nigerian immigrants. As an underground artist, the Celebrate Me hitmaker recorded 120 duets before becoming a celebrity. Patoranking was invited to lay a verse on the remixed version of Pull Up by DefJam Africa artist Stonebwoy in 2013 - a hit that helped the Nigerian singer establish his feet in the Ghanaian music scene. In 2014, he released the track that "changed everything" - Alubarika (Blessings) ft Timaya. He followed it up the following year with another smash single, Girlie O. Tiwa Savage, another Nigerian megastar, appeared on the remixed version.
In 2016, he released 'No Kissing Baby,' which featured Sarkodie, a two-time BET Award winner.
He collaborated with singers such as Fancy Gadam, KiDi, Kuami Eugene, MzVee, King Promise, Kofi Kinaata, Bisa K'dei, Jupitar, and DJ Mic Smith, among others, to further cement his place in Ghanaian music history. Patoranking is now in Ghana promoting his new track, Kolo Kolo, which features Diamond Platinumz.
