Dancehall Artiste Shaggy Was Conferred with Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from Brown University
- Dancehall artiste Shaggy was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University in the United States
- The Grammy Award winner expressed his excitement about the achievement on Saturday, May 28, during the graduation ceremony
- Shaggy was conferred with the honorary doctorate in recognition of his immeasurable contribution to American pop culture
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Dancehall star Shaggy has been conferred with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University, US.
The award-winning artiste was also put on a mini Reggae/Dancehall show to huge cheers from excited students and academic staff, during the institution’s Undergraduate Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony.
The Boombastic singer was one of nine persons who received honorary doctorates from Brown, which is one of the leading Ivy League research universities in the United States.
Shaggy met with resounding cheers from students as he approached the podium for his degree and citation which read in part:
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“Your style, your voice and your influence on Reggae and the genre’s growth in American pop culture cannot be overstated. You are recognised world over for your success as a musician, your leadership and philanthropy”
In his address, Shaggy outlined the Reggae icons who inspired him, among them Yellowman and Bob Marley.
“You see, I realised early on, that nothing showcases culture like stars and nothing shifts culture like superstars. Because the odds were against me as a Caribbean artiste doing Dancehall and Reggae music, I had to become not just a star, but a superstar; a star with superhero-like talent, personality, charisma, work ethic and presence,” he said.
Man who rode motorcycle-taxi to fund himself graduates as top student
In a related matter, George Ameyaw, a student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in Ghana, who supported himself through school with his motorcycle taxi (okada) business, has graduated as the top student. In an interview with Briefly News, the gentleman confirmed that he had a GPA of 3.96, which was the highest in the Faculty of Science and Environment Education. George studied BSc Integrated Science Education from UEW-Mampong campus in the College of Agriculture Education at the respected university.
His journey to becoming a motorcycle taxi rider started when his study-leave salary was cut. With no solid financial support coming in, George applied for a scholarship from MTN Ghana Foundation and also gathered some funds to purchase an 'okada' to start a business.
Source: Briefly News
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