# Death of British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/death-of-british-ghanaian-rapper-sway-dasafo
> Updated: 2026-09-19T15:00:00.000Z. Sources: 30. Developments: 2.

British-Ghanaian rapper and producer Sway DaSafo, born Derek Andrew Safo, died at the age of 44 at his residence in Ghana on September 17. 

DaSafo was a prominent figure in the UK hip-hop and grime scenes. He gained historical recognition in 2005 as the first unsigned artist to win the MOBO Award for Best Hip-Hop Act. His 2006 debut album, ‘This Is My Demo’, earned a Mercury Prize nomination. 

While an official cause of death has not been released, reports note that he had previously battled Hodgkin lymphoma following a 2010 diagnosis. In June, he had shared positive updates with fans, stating he had ‘won the battle’ and was recovering.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-19: Sway DaSafo, influential British rapper, dies at 44

British hip-hop artist Sway DaSafo has died at age 44 at his home in Ghana. He had previously been battling Hodgkin lymphoma for 16 years.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sway-dasafo-influential-british-rapper-dies-at-44

### 2026-09-17: Sway DaSafo, British-Ghanaian rap pioneer, dies at 44

British-Ghanaian rap pioneer Sway DaSafo has died at age 44 in Ghana. A MOBO Award winner, he was a key figure in UK hip-hop known for his independent success and mentorship.

26 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sway-dasafo-influential-british-ghanaian-rapper-dies-at-44

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Cite as: Death of British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/death-of-british-ghanaian-rapper-sway-dasafo