Fuse ODG Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Songs, Albums, Parents, Ethnicity

Biography

Fuse ODG (born Nana Richard Abiona on December 2, 1988) is a Ghanaian-British singer, songwriter, and rapper widely regarded as one of the key figures in bringing Afrobeats to mainstream Western audiences.

Born in London and raised in Ghana, he returned to the UK for his secondary education, attending Archbishop Lanfranc School in Croydon and growing up in Mitcham, South London.

His stage name reflects his signature approach: “Fuse” speaks to his fusion of genres, Afro-pop, hip-hop, R&B, funk, and rock — while “ODG” stands for “Off Da Ground.”

He broke into the mainstream in 2013 with “Antenna,” which peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, followed by “Dangerous Love” featuring Sean Paul, which climbed to No. 3 in 2014. His debut album T.I.N.A. — an acronym for “This Is New Africa” — was released in November 2014 and peaked at No. 25 on the UK Albums Chart.

Beyond music, Fuse ODG is an outspoken pan-African advocate. He famously turned down a spot on the Band Aid 30 project, objecting to how the song’s lyrics portrayed victims of the Ebola epidemic and Africa at large.

He is also the founder of the “This Is New Africa” (TINA) campaign, an initiative aimed at reshaping negative perceptions of the continent and promoting African economic development.

Ghanaian-British singer, songwriter, and rapper
Fuse ODG
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Nana Richard Abiona
Stage Name:	Fuse ODG
Born:	2 December 1988 (age 37 years old)
Place of Birth:	London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality:	Ghanaian, British
Education:	Archbishop Lanfranc School
Height:	174 cm
Parents:	N/A
Siblings:	Kojo Talr
Spouse:	Karen Tino Jonga (m. 2022)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Rapper • Singer • Songwriter
Net Worth:	$3 million-$5.5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Fuse ODG was born Nana Richard Abiona on December 2, 1988, in London, England. He is 37 years old.

His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He holds dual Ghanaian-British nationality and is of Ghanaian ethnicity. While his religious beliefs have not been publicly confirmed, he was raised in a culturally African household with deep roots in Ghanaian tradition and identity.

Shortly after his birth, Fuse ODG was taken to Ghana, where he spent much of his childhood before eventually returning to the United Kingdom for his secondary schooling. He grew up in Mitcham, South London.

Rooted in Ghanaian culture yet shaped by the rhythms of South London, his dual upbringing would define his artistic identity in profound ways.

Fuse ODG was born in England to Ghanaian parents. He speaks little about his parents and has not revealed much information about them publicly. He has a brother, Kojo Talr, an up-and-coming musician based in Ghana.

Fuse ODG returned to London for his secondary education, attending Archbishop Lanfranc School in Croydon. It was during this period that he first encountered the social challenges that would push him toward music. After returning to London, he faced bullying as an adolescent because of his Ghanaian accent. He started making music to connect with his peers and gain social status.

He had a studio set up in his bedroom and initially made music primarily influenced by American hip-hop, while also drawing on African genres such as Ghanaian highlife. He also drew on Black British genres, including grime and UK garage, and was specifically inspired by the UK garage and hip-hop collective So Solid Crew.

Other influences included Ghanaian rappers like Obrafour, Reggie Rockstone, and Lord Kenya. Fuse ODG was part of a rap crew at his school called 2 Gully, and he began to take music more seriously after they performed at an open mic competition at Fairfield Halls.

Career

Fuse ODG took his first major step toward a professional music career in 2011, when he traveled to Ghana and linked up with Ghanaian producer Killbeatz and rapper Itz Tiffany.

Their collaboration produced the viral dance track “Azonto,” which had millions worldwide imitating his moves. The song announced him as a distinctive new voice in African-influenced music and set the stage for everything that followed.

His distinct blend of Afrobeats, hip-hop, and rap drew comparisons to Akon and K’Naan, and he won the Urban Music Award for Best Afro-Beats Artist in 2012, as well as a Ghana Music Award nomination, making him the first UK-based artist to be considered for the honor. That same year, he released his debut EP, The Buzz, and dropped the single “Antenna,” which would become his breakthrough record.

On August 23, 2012, Fuse ODG released “Antenna,” which peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart and number 85 on the Irish Singles Chart. The record sparked another dance craze across the internet and cemented his crossover into mainstream British pop culture. On October 19, 2013, he was awarded Best African Act at the MOBO Awards’ 18th Anniversary, and he also won four awards at the Urban Music Awards 2013, taking home Best Music Video, Best Single, Best Artiste, and Best Collaboration.

The hits kept coming through the end of 2013 and into 2014. “Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad),” released on December 29, 2013, peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. On May 18, 2014, Fuse ODG released “Dangerous Love” featuring Sean Paul, which peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. He is a two-time winner of the Best African Act at the MOBO Awards, taking the prize in both 2013 and 2014.

His debut album, T.I.N.A., an acronym for “This Is New Africa,” was released on November 3, 2014, and included all five singles. The album peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 63 in Scotland. More than a commercial release, T.I.N.A. was a statement of cultural intent, positioning Fuse ODG as both a recording artist and an advocate for a reimagined African narrative.

Around this time, he also made headlines for a principled stand, turning down an offer to sing on the Band Aid 30 project because he objected to the way the song’s lyrics portrayed victims of the Ebola epidemic and Africa at large.

He maintained his momentum in the years that followed. In 2015, he released the single “Top of My Charts.” More singles followed, including 2016’s “BomBae” featuring Zack Knight and Badshah, and 2017’s “Window Seat” and “Sunrise” with Jillionaire and Fatman Scoop. In 2016, he also featured on Major Lazer’s “Light It Up (Remix),” which reached No. 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

One of the defining moments of his later career came through his collaboration with Ed Sheeran. “Boa Me,” which means “help me” in the Ghanaian Twi language, was recorded in Ghana and also featured Mugeez from Ghanaian hip-hop duo R2Bees. On the track, Ed Sheeran sings entirely in Twi over a highlife-influenced Afrobeats production. Through his contribution to Ed Sheeran’s ÷ album, Fuse ODG became the first Ghanaian artist to win a Grammy.

In early 2019, he released his second studio album, New Africa Nation, once again spreading messages of cultural pride, self-reliance, and achievement. It was preceded by the single “Bra Fie,” a Twi phrase meaning “come home,” featuring Damian Marley.

The 14-track project boasted an all-star list of collaborations, including Damian Marley, Ed Sheeran, Stefflon Don, Sarkodie, and more. Released under his own Off DaGround Records, the album melds influences from rap, grime, bashment, house, Afrobeat, and highlife.

Beyond recording, Fuse ODG has been an active influence in helping young people in his local communities realize their musical aspirations through a mobile studio. He helped found the TINA movement, which aimed to encourage Africans to use their skills to rebuild their communities and take pride in their cultural heritage.

He also launched the annual TINA Festival in Accra and has used his platform to fund school construction projects in rural Ghana, cementing his reputation as one of the most socially engaged artists of his generation.

Social media

• Wikipedia: Fuse ODG
• Facebook: Fuse ODG (@FuseODGVibes)
• Instagram: Fuse ODG (@fuseodg)
• X: Fuse ODG (@FuseODG)
• YouTube: OffDaGroundTV

Personal Life

Fuse ODG is 37 years old, born on December 2, 1988. He stands at 174 cm (5 feet 9 inches) tall.

Fuse ODG is married to Karen Tino Jonga, a Zimbabwean stylist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. The two tied the knot on April 10, 2022, in a star-studded ceremony held at Oasis Gardens in Accra.

Their white-themed wedding was attended by several celebrities, including Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, actor Majid Michel, businessman Cheddar, and singer Stefflon Don.

Their love story began in adolescence and endured across continents. According to Fuse ODG, he first met his Zimbabwean lover at a carnival in Notting Hill when he was 15, and she was 14. The two lost touch over the years as their lives took different directions, but eventually found their way back to each other.

The couple had been together for over a decade before they decided to make things official by walking down the aisle in 2022. Fuse ODG had even immortalized the early days of their relationship in music: his 2017 track “No Daylight” was dedicated to Karen, with lyrics that narrate the early days of their affection and the years they spent apart before reuniting.

Karen Tino Jonga is from Zimbabwe but is based in the United Kingdom, where she met Fuse ODG. She is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied fashion, earning her degree in 2012.

She has worked as a fashion designer for several entities and has also launched her own clothing line, Karentino, where she serves as head designer. Beyond fashion, Karen co-founded Nana Dolls with Fuse ODG, a Black doll line for young African girls in Ghana and Africa, launched in 2019 in support of Ghana’s Year of Return campaign.

As for children, Fuse ODG has not publicly confirmed having any. No information about children from his marriage to Karen Tino Jonga has been made public as of the time of this writing.

Net Worth

Fuse ODG has built considerable wealth over the course of his career as a recording artist, songwriter, entrepreneur, and cultural activist. His income streams span music sales, streaming royalties, live performances, brand collaborations, and his various business ventures, including Nana Dolls and the TINA movement.

His net worth is estimated at between $3 million and $5.5 million, though the precise figure has not been publicly confirmed by Fuse ODG himself.

Discography

Studio Albums

• T.I.N.A. (2014)
• New Africa Nation (2019)
• Spirit of New Africa (2025)
• 54 Countries: The Full Journey (2025)

EPs

• The Buzz (2012)

Singles

• “Azonto” feat. Itz Tiffany (2011)
• “Antenna” (2012)
• “Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)” (2013)
• “Dangerous Love” feat. Sean Paul (2014)
• “T.I.N.A.” feat. Angel (2014)
• “Top of My Charts” (2015)
• “Only” (2015)
• “BomBae” feat. Zack Knight and Badshah (2016)
• “Window Seat” (2017)
• “Sunrise” feat. Jillionaire and Fatman Scoop (2017)
• “Boa Me” feat. Ed Sheeran and Mugeez (2017)
• “No Daylight” (2017)
• “Bra Fie” feat. Damian Marley (2018)
• “Get Down” (2022)
• “What It Do” (2022)
• “100%” (2023)
• “3eak a.M. (Waistline)” (2023)
• “22 Tattoos” (2023)
• “Ic3” (2023)
• “We Know It’s Christmas” (2024)
• “Sundiata” feat. Suli Breaks (2025)
• “Game Over” (2026)
• “We Story” (2026)
• “By My Side” (2026)
• “Cou Cou” (2026)

What People Ask