Trans Ghanaian artist releases protest song ‘Coward’
Angel Maxine’s latest music video exposes violence suffered by LGBTQ Ghanaians
The following report was originally published by Rightify Ghana.
Ghanaian transgender musician and human rights activist Angel Maxine has released a striking new protest song and short film titled “Coward” — a fearless artistic statement that exposes the hidden violence, blackmail, and hypocrisy endured by queer people in Ghana.
Maxine is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQI+ rights. Through her art, she challenges societal hypocrisy, calls for justice, and transforms personal struggle into collective empowerment. Maxine’s work has made her one of the most visible and courageous queer voices in West Africa’s creative and activist landscape.
“Since the introduction of the Ghanaian Anti-LGBTQ Bill, fear has forced many into hiding. Behind closed doors, DL (down low) men and women exploit and betray the very queer people they desire. Blackmail. Attacks. Betrayal. This is our reality and this is our protest. It is a protest against shame, secrecy, and fear. It is an affirmation that love deserves the light,” says an opening text crawl.
Exposing the Faces Behind Fear and Violence
Produced under the banner of Amplified Voices Initiative Ghana, “Coward” serves as both music and manifesto. Directed by Nana Abena Sika and filmed by Sosa, the short film interweaves real-life accounts of violence against queer people in Ghana, including footage of recent attacks where victims were lured through social media, assaulted, robbed, blackmailed, and humiliated.
The images in the video are graphic and violent, and viewer discretion is advised.
In a daring act of accountability, the film also reveals the faces of some alleged perpetrators, forcing society to confront the individuals who fuel Ghana’s epidemic of violent homophobia. The intention, according to the production team, is to “put a face to hate” — transforming fear into exposure, silence into protest.
A Voice for the Hidden and the Hurt
Throughout the film, Angel Maxine reads aloud testimonies from survivors, giving voice to those who have been silenced by fear, stigma, and violence. The emotional storytelling transitions into the song itself, where Maxine’s voice delivers both pain and power, urging collective awakening and resistance.
Beyond addressing public violence, Coward also calls out “DL” (down-low) men — gay or bisexual men who hide their sexuality while secretly engaging in same-sex relationships — for their complicity in sustaining cycles of shame and betrayal.
“The song confronts those who live double lives — men who can’t be themselves but still harm others by exploiting and exposing the very people they secretly desire,” Maxine says. “It’s about the courage to live authentically and the cost of cowardice in a society that punishes truth.”
Transforming Pain into Protest
Described in the official film notes as “a voice for everyone who has ever been hidden, shamed, or betrayed for simply loving,” Coward transforms trauma into testimony. It denounces the social and legal systems that weaponize morality and religion to oppress queer people, while affirming the power of self-acceptance and community solidarity.
The song’s title “Coward” is both an accusation and a challenge: a mirror held up to individuals and institutions that hide behind hate while denying others the right to exist freely.
“Coward” is one of the lead singles from Angel Maxine’s highly anticipated new album, Affirmdat, a body of work dedicated to empowerment, truth, and radical self-acceptance. The album celebrates resilience in the face of stigma and seeks to affirm the humanity and dignity of queer people across Africa. Each song, blends protest, poetry, and spirituality to reclaim space and visibility in a world that too often denies both.
A Visual Protest and Act of Defiance
The film juxtaposes Maxine’s vivid imagery and natural landscapes with the dark realities of fear and violence. Through poetic narration, survivor stories, and protest performance, “Coward” becomes more than a song — it is an act of defiance, a documentation of truth, and a demand for justice.
Angel Maxine, Ghana’s most prominent openly transgender musician, continues to use her art as a tool for activism, following earlier releases such as “Wo Fie,” “Prejudice,” and “Kill the Bill.” Her work stands at the intersection of art, resistance, and advocacy — challenging Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ climate and inspiring others to live boldly in the face of repression.
