MeanAugustine, born Augustine Osei, is a Ghanaian independent Afrobeat and R&B artist building a catalogue outside the mainstream label system, one release at a time. He started making music in 2015 under an earlier stage name, Narja, before rebranding to MeanAugustine, the name behind his debut EP, "Addiction."

Quick Facts at a Glance

  • Real name: Augustine Osei
  • Stage name: MeanAugustine (formerly Narja)
  • Genre: Afrobeat, R&B
  • Debut project: "Addiction," an EP about love, desire and relationships
  • Notable singles: "Elevate," "Blessings," "Shege," "Free My Soul," "Que Sera, Sera"
  • Distribution: Independent release across major digital streaming platforms

From Narja to MeanAugustine

Before settling on MeanAugustine, Augustine Osei recorded under the name Narja. The rebrand marked a shift toward a more personal, direct songwriting voice, one built around real relationships rather than a persona. He has been releasing music independently since 2015, without the marketing budget of a major label behind him.

Addiction: The Debut EP

MeanAugustine's debut EP, "Addiction," is a project about the highs and lows of love rather than a spiritual or gospel record. Each track works through a different angle on desire and relationships: "Crazy" follows a woman taking control in a fleeting moment of passion, "Obi Mpena" is a reflection on lost love, "Masherita" works through the tension between love and financial stability, and "Addicted" leans into unfiltered, bass-heavy passion. Together they read as raw, specific and unmistakably about romantic entanglement rather than abstract inspiration.

Building a Catalogue Independently

Since "Addiction," MeanAugustine has kept releasing steadily: "Elevate" as his debut single, followed by "Blessings," "Shege" (an Afrobeat single released in September 2024), "Free My Soul" (July 2024), and "Que Sera, Sera" in October 2024. Each release carries the copyright directly to Augustine Osei, consistent with an artist distributing independently rather than through a label deal.

Compare that DIY route to the machinery around Ghana's biggest annual music night, covered in full in our Telecel Ghana Music Awards guide: two very different paths to an audience, both active in the same music scene at the same time.