{{Short description|Ghanaian gospel musician (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Nii Okai | image = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | native_name = | birth_name = Ernest Nii-Okai Okai | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|09|19}}<!-- -- Please refrain from further changes, see Talk:Nii Okai for issues relating to DOB--> | birth_place = Tema, Ghana | origin = | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = Gospel, Urban contemporary gospel | occupation = Singer, song writer | instrument = Vocals | years_active = (2004–present) | label = "House of Virtue" | website = {{URL|www.niiokai.com}} }} '''Nii Okai''' (Ernest Nii-Okai Okai, born September 19, 1977) is a Ghanaian Contemporary gospel singer and a choir leader.
==Early life and education== Nii Okai had his Secondary School education at Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, Central Region of Ghana and furthered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He currently holds an MA in Mission and Theology.
Nii Okai in the mid 2010 set up "Nii Okai Ministries", a team of vagrant music missionaries based in Tema, Ghana.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nii Okai drops new hit ‘TRINITY'|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=353937}}</ref>
==Music career== {{Confusing|talk=Nii Okai#Music career|reason=the wording is confusing as well as some puffery may be included|date=May 2026}} Nii Okai is currently the leader of "Harbour City Mass Choir" (H.C.M.C.), an inter-denominational music ministry based in Tema, Ghana.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harbour City Mass choir raises the gospel bar|url=http://www.modernghana.com/music/7974/3/harbour-city-mass-choir-raises-the-gospel-bar.html}}</ref> He came into the limelight when he released his first album "Moko Be". An 8-track music album produced by one of the great multi-talented instrumentalists in Ghana, KODA with its hit songs; "Woana Na" and "Moko Be". The album featured "Danny Nettey", "Nana Yaa Amihere" among others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moko Be by nii Okai|url=http://www.emusic.com/album/nii-okai/moko-be/13533378/}}</ref>
===Nii Okai and "The Harbour City Mass Choir"=== Nii Okai is the co-founder of "Harbour City Mass Choir" an inter-denominational music ministry based in Tema, Ghana with a clear purpose of impacting the youth through contemporary gospel music, school outreach programs, music ministry workshops as well as peer and social counseling.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nii Okai Makes An Entry With ?Moko Be?|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Nii-Okai-Makes-An-Entry-With-Moko-Be-191656}}</ref>
Nii Okai has 5 albums to his credit. "Moko Be", "Hymnz Unlimited", "Worshipful", "Saving Hearts" and "Holy writings" which he received an award with the "Saving Hearts" album at the 16th edition of Vodafone Ghana Music Awards for Music for Development Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nii Okai wins VGMA Music for Development Award with his 'Saving Hearts' Project|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Nii-Okai-wins-VGMA-Music-for-Development-Award-with-his-Saving-Hearts-Project-353904}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=WORSHIPFUL WITH NII OKAI LIVE IN LONDON|url=http://www.gospelgh.com/website/component/k2/item/568-worshipful-with-nii-okai-live-in-london|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810151724/http://www.gospelgh.com/website/component/k2/item/568-worshipful-with-nii-okai-live-in-london|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=There Is So Much Hypocrisy in the Ghanaian System-NII OKAI|url=http://gospelcrusader.com/there-is-so-much-hypocrisy-in-the-ghanaian-system-nii-okai/}}</ref>
==Personal life== Nii is a professional banker and married to Yaa Okai. The couple has 3 children. He was a member of the "St. Paul's Methodist Church" in Tema.<ref>{{cite web|title=WORSHIPFUL WITH NII OKAI LIVE IN LONDON|url=http://www.gospelgh.com/website/component/k2/item/568-worshipful-with-nii-okai-live-in-london|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810151724/http://www.gospelgh.com/website/component/k2/item/568-worshipful-with-nii-okai-live-in-london|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 10, 2016}}</ref> He is currently the lead pastor at International House of Virtue popularly known as the iChurch in Tema.
Nii Okai is known for his strong commitment to the cause of contemporary gospel music in Ghana and has worked with the likes of Kofi Dua Anto (KODA), Eugene Zuta, Danny Nettey, Diana Hopeson among others.
==Discography==
===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |- ! rowspan="1" style="width:14em;"| Title ! rowspan="1" style="width:18em;"| Album details |- ! scope="row"| ''Moko Be'' | * Release year: 2004 |- |- ! scope="row" | Worshipful | * Release year: 2006 |- |- ! scope="row"| ''Hymnz Unlimited''<ref>{{cite web|title=Nii Okai Takes Hymns Revival To Kumasi|url=http://www.modernghana.com/music/15771/3/nii-okai-takes-hymns-revival-to-kumasi.html}}</ref> | * Release year: 2009 |- |- ! scope="row"| ''Holy Writings'' | * Release year: 2012 |- |- ! scope="row"| ''Saving Hearts''<ref>{{cite web|title=Gospel musician flashmob's the malls with "Saving Hearts" album|url=http://pulse.com.gh/music/nii-okai-gospel-musician-flashmob-s-the-malls-with-saving-hearts-album-id3743638.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nii Okai New Album Ready|url=http://georgebritton.com/gb/blog-details.php?blogid=413#sthash.UWvGikGf.dpbs}}</ref> | * Release year: 2015 |- !''Yesu Hi [https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Nii-Okai-releases-new-single-on-December-23-495986][https://www.myjoyonline.com/entertainment/2017/september-15th/my-sixth-album-launch-is-to-save-40-lives-nii-okai.php]'' | * Release year: 2017 |- |}
===Major Singles=== * ''Woana na'' * ''Moko be'' Produced by KODA
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Event !Prize !Recipient / Nominated work !Result !Ref |- |rowspan="2"|2015 |Ghana Music Awards |Music for Development |Saving Hearts |{{Won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/pages/music/201504/238245.php|title = Nii Okai Wins VGMA Music for Development Award With His 'Saving Hearts' Project|website = peacefmonline|access-date = September 3, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150926045758/http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/pages/music/201504/238245.php|archive-date = September 26, 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> |- |Christian Community Music Awards |Most Wanted Timeless Song |rowspan="2"|Himself |{{Won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://georgebritton.com/gb/music-news-details.php?newsid=624|title = NII OKAI, EUGENE ZUTA WIN AT CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS|website = georgebritton}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Nii-Okai-Eugene-Zuta-win-at-Christian-Music-Awards-342720|title = Nii Okai, Eugene Zuta win at Christian Music Awards|website = ghanaweb}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2"|2014 |Africa Gospel Music Awards |Artiste of the Year West Africa |{{Nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://omgghana.com/nacy-ohemaa-mercy-gifty-osei-skuulfoo-nii-okai-others-nominated-for-africa-gospel-music-awards-2012full-list-of-nomination/|title = Nacy, Ohemaa Mercy, Gifty Osei, Skuulfoo, Nii Okai, Others Nominated For Africa Gospel Music Awards 2012+Full List Of Nomination|website = omgghana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.gospelgh.com/website/component/k2/item/437-africa-gospel-music-awards-releases-2014-full-nominee-list/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925203717/http://www.gospelgh.com/website/component/k2/item/437-africa-gospel-music-awards-releases-2014-full-nominee-list/|url-status = usurped|archive-date = September 25, 2015|title = AGMA RELEASES 2014 FULL NOMINEE LIST|website = |publisher = gospelgh}}</ref> |- |MTN/4syte TV Music Video Awards |Best Gospel Video |You Are Jesus |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ghanacelebrities.com/2013/10/06/photos-mtn-4syte-music-video-awards-2013-launched-full-nomination-list/|title = PHOTOS + MTN 4syte Music Video Awards 2013 Launched {{!}} We Have The Full Nomination List Here!|website = ghanacelebrities}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * [https://music.apple.com/gh/artist/nii-okai/443102260 iTunes]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Okai, Nii}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Ghanaian male singers Category:21st-century Ghanaian singers Category:Ghanaian gospel singers Category:People from Tema Category:1977 births Category:Mfantsipim School alumni Category:Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology alumni