Sierra Leonean rapper Menace D General took to social media to congratulate a remarkable achievement by Amie Fornah Sankoh, a hearing-impaired Sierra Leonean woman who recently graduated with a PhD in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) discipline in the United States.

The rapper, known for his uplifting lyrics and inspirational messages, shared his admiration for the woman’s accomplishment and expressed his support.

The rapper revealed in his heartfelt post that the woman, named Amie, had approached him on Instagram with a heartfelt message.

Amie, the first-ever deaf Sierra Leonean to earn a PhD in any STEM field and the first black deaf woman in the US to do so, requested the lyrics to one of Menace D General’s songs for her graduation party. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the rapper not only granted her permission but also offered words of courage and motivation.

“Just about a week ago, Amie reached out with a beautiful message on Instagram. Long story short, our sister Amie has made history as the first deaf Sierra Leonean with a PhD in any STEM field and the first black deaf woman in the US,” Menace D General shared in his social media post. “She said, ‘MDG, I need the lyrics to your song. Please give me permission to use it to celebrate my graduation.’ What an incredible sister! Sierra Leone is super proud of you, Amie, and may you continue to excel to greater heights. Congratulations, Dr. Amie.”

Amie Fornah Sankoh lost her hearing at the age of three and endured the hardships of the civil war, and has become the first deaf, Black woman to be awarded a doctorate in a STEM discipline in the US.

The historic moment unfolded on Saturday as Sankoh received her PhD from the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Sankoh’s journey to this remarkable feat was filled with challenges. As a child, she faced academic struggles due to her inability to hear, prompting her family to make the life-changing decision to relocate to the United States in search of a potential cure. While medical professionals couldn’t restore her hearing, Sankoh immersed herself in the deaf community, where she gradually learned American Sign Language (ASL).