Lisa Quama: Taking Ghanaian Dance and African Creativity to a Global Digital Audience

WAFRIC Awards 2026 Nominee Spotlight | Social Media Influencer of the Year | Ghana

Social media has transformed the way creative talent is discovered, shared and experienced. For some creators, digital platforms have become more than spaces for entertainment; they are opportunities to build careers, connect cultures and introduce local creativity to international audiences.

For Ghanaian dancer and digital creator Lisa Quama, dance has become the foundation of a growing creative career that combines performance, choreography, content creation and international engagement.

Known for her energetic dance videos and distinctive online presence, Quama has developed an audience through platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Her journey reflects how a passion discovered early in life can evolve into a professional identity with opportunities extending far beyond social media.

At the West African Citizens Awards 2026, she is nominated for Social Media Influencer of the Year, representing Ghana.

Discovering Dance: A Passion That Became a Career

Lisa Quama, whose full name has been reported as Lisa Naa Kwaama Darko, developed an interest in dance from childhood.

In a 2021 interview with Pulse Ghana, she recalled that dancing had been part of her life from a very young age. She described how her parents would dance to make her happy as a baby and explained that she began dancing in kindergarten before continuing to develop her skills through dance classes.

Her interest became more serious during her years at Ghana National College, where she continued dancing while pursuing her education.

She later joined Dance With a Purpose (DWP) Academy, a Ghanaian dance collective that provided an environment for professional development, collaboration and performance. The academy became an important part of her growth as a dancer, exposing her to structured rehearsals, choreography and opportunities to work alongside other talented performers.

In interviews, Quama has described how she initially considered a career in accountancy. She continued her studies while developing her dance career, eventually graduating from the University of Ghana in 2024 after studying an accounting-related programme.

Her journey demonstrates that creative ambition and academic development do not necessarily have to compete. Through discipline and time management, she pursued both.

The DWP Academy and an International Breakthrough

Quama’s association with DWP Academy played an important role in introducing her talent to wider audiences.

One of the major international opportunities came through the academy’s participation in Beyoncé’s visual album Black Is King, released in 2020.

The project celebrated African culture, music, fashion and visual storytelling, bringing together artists and creatives from different parts of the world. DWP Academy’s participation placed Ghanaian dance talent within a major international production.

For Quama, the experience represented an opportunity to be part of a project involving globally recognised artists and creative professionals.

It also helped demonstrate the potential of Ghanaian dance beyond local entertainment spaces. Through international productions, collaborations and digital distribution, dance created in Ghana could reach audiences who might otherwise have had little exposure to the country’s contemporary dance scene.

The visibility generated by such opportunities contributed to the wider recognition of DWP Academy and its dancers.

Building a Digital Identity Through Dance

Quama’s social media presence is closely connected to her ability to translate movement into engaging digital content.

Her dance videos have attracted attention across online platforms, where short-form video has become an important medium for discovering music, choreography and emerging creative talent.

Her online journey has also been shaped by consistency. Rather than treating social media simply as a place to share occasional performances, she has used digital platforms to showcase her work, connect with audiences and create opportunities for professional collaborations.

In 2024, she was widely reported as the first female dancer from Ghana to receive TikTok verification. The milestone reflected her growing visibility within Ghana’s digital entertainment and dance community.

Her YouTube presence has also provided another platform for sharing dance performances, creative projects and content with an audience beyond the limitations of a single social media network.

For Quama, digital influence is closely linked to the creative work itself. Her audience is not built solely around online personality; it is also connected to the dance performances, choreography and cultural expression she shares.

Taking African Dance Beyond Ghana

Quama’s career has increasingly included opportunities to engage with international audiences through live performances, dance education and creative collaborations.

In July 2026, NewsGhana reported that she began a United States tour with a sold-out dance class at Ripley Grier Studios in New York. The programme, organised in collaboration with DWP Academy USA, brought together dancers and enthusiasts interested in learning choreography and experiencing African dance.

The tour also included planned engagements in other American cities, including Philadelphia, Florida and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

These activities demonstrate another dimension of her influence: the ability to turn digital visibility into physical experiences where audiences can learn, participate and connect through dance.

Her international work is significant because it places African dance within spaces where culture can be experienced directly rather than only consumed through online videos.

Through workshops and performances, Quama contributes to the growing international interest in African movement, music and contemporary dance culture.

New York Fashion Week and Climate Week: Expanding Creative Boundaries

In September 2026, Quama reached another international milestone through her participation in New York Fashion Week and Climate Week.

According to MyJoyOnline, she attended the Opulence Fashion Show as a VIP guest before making her runway debut at the Made With Intention show.

Her participation extended beyond fashion presentation. During Climate Week, she delivered a one-hour dance installation at the THREADS OF IMPACT show, presented by The Sustainability Laboratory.

The performance used movement as a creative medium to engage with conversations around sustainability, fashion and human connection.

This experience reflected the expanding nature of her work. A dancer whose public identity developed through digital content was now participating in international cultural events through performance, fashion and creative expression.

It also demonstrated how social media creators can move into new creative environments, using the audiences and identities they have developed online as a foundation for broader professional opportunities.

From Digital Creator to Mainstream Media Personality

The influence of digital creators increasingly extends into traditional broadcasting and mainstream entertainment.

On 30 October 2026, MyJoyOnline reported that Quama joined filmmaker and entertainer Big Ghun to co-host the JoyNews AM Show as part of a collaboration between Multimedia Group and Influencer Africa.

The initiative brought social media influencers and content creators onto selected radio and television programmes, creating opportunities for digital personalities to engage audiences through established media platforms.

Her participation was another indication of how the boundaries between social media and traditional broadcasting are changing.

Creators who initially build their audiences through online platforms can increasingly find opportunities in television, radio, live events and other forms of media engagement.

For Quama, the appearance added a broadcasting dimension to a career already spanning dance, choreography, digital content and international creative events.

The Business and Discipline Behind Creative Influence

Behind the public-facing side of dance and social media is the work required to sustain a professional creative career.

In an October 2026 conversation on Springboard, Your Virtual University, Quama discussed the importance of treating creative talent professionally.

She explained that working within DWP Academy involves responsibilities beyond performing choreography. Rehearsals, communication, deadlines, preparation, branding and collaboration all contribute to the quality of the final performance.

She also highlighted the role technology and social media have played in helping the academy reach international audiences and attract brands interested in connecting with consumers through digital content.

This perspective is important because influence is not simply about the number of people who watch a video. It also involves consistency, professional relationships, creative value and the ability to turn audience engagement into sustainable opportunities.

Quama’s journey illustrates how a creative talent can develop into a professional enterprise when supported by discipline, teamwork and an understanding of the opportunities available through digital media.

Why Lisa Quama Is Nominated for WAFRIC Awards 2026

The West African Citizens Awards recognises individuals whose work and contributions deserve acknowledgement across the region.

Quama’s nomination for Social Media Influencer of the Year, representing Ghana, recognises a creative journey that connects digital influence with dance, cultural expression and international engagement.

From her early development as a dancer to her work with DWP Academy, participation in Black Is King, international dance workshops and appearances at New York Fashion Week and Climate Week, her career reflects the expanding possibilities available to African digital creators.

Her story also highlights an important development in contemporary media: influence can be built around a skill, a cultural identity and a creative contribution that audiences find meaningful.

As WAFRIC Awards 2026 celebrates exceptional West Africans across different fields, Lisa Quama represents Ghana in a category that recognises the role of digital creators in shaping conversations, connecting audiences and expanding the visibility of African creativity.

Support Lisa Quama at WAFRIC Awards 2026

Lisa Quama is nominated for Social Media Influencer of the Year, representing Ghana, at the West African Citizens Awards 2026.

This edition carries the theme:

Recognizing the Unseen. Celebrating the Exceptional.

Support the nominee and participate in the official public voting process.

Vote here: https://wafricawards.com.ng/official-public-voting/

Read the voting procedures and criteria: https://wafricawards.com.ng/wafric-awards-2026-voting-procedures-and-criteria/

Public voting closes on 15 November 2026. Public votes contribute to the process but do not solely determine the winners. Final assessments also consider achievements, contributions and impact in accordance with the published criteria.

West African Citizens Awards 2026 — Recognizing the Unseen. Celebrating the Exceptional.