Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns. His use of Ghanaian and other African cultures in his pregame wardrobe not only makes his fashion sense stand out, but also takes us all on a journey through the continent rarely seen before in American pro sports.
Owusu-Koramoah grew up in a very spiritual and disciplined household. His father, who was born in Ghana, and mother met in England before moving to Hampton, Virginia, in 1998, one year before Owusu-Koramoah was born.
While he had relatives who were Muslim or followed other religions, Owusu-Koramoah was raised Christian by his parents, which meant waking early every morning to pray along with avoiding certain vices: no cursing, no drinking, no smoking, no going out.
Their parenting style took after scripture; Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
He was good enough to receive scholarship offers from Virginia Military Institute and historically Black University of Maryland Eastern Shore in hoops, but football was his destiny from the first moment a coach discovered him as a youth.
While Owusu-Koramoah would eventually become an All-State linebacker in high school and an All-American and Butkus Award winner, given to the nation’s top linebacker, at Notre Dame, his first passion was basketball.
Despite his fondness for showing off his Ghanaian culture, Owusu-Koramoah wasn’t particularly raised in a Ghanaian household. His father did not live in the home Owusu-Koramoah shared with his mother and siblings.
Even still, his father didn’t teach him about their family heritage, preferring to focus on the opportunities that a life in America presented to his children.
Owusu-Koramoah doesn’t believe that his father necessarily needed to teach him anything, as the gift of his Ghanaian identity was sufficient enough.
Regardless, he eventually fellowshipped with Ghanaian teachers, and his father, who educated him on the nation’s spirituality, ideology, fundamentals, and fashion.
He is consciously promoting his motherland, Ghana and Africa as a whole. He wears Traditional and Cultural attire to almost all of his games.
Owusu does not only wear them for the glams but also enlightens his follows on his beautiful and colorful choice of clothing on his social media pages.
With all Owusu-Koramoah learned about his culture and himself over the years, he decided to use his job as a pro football player and the eyeballs that profession attracts to spread the message of what makes him unique.
