Ghana tallest man Sulemana Abdul Samed, known as Awuche, has died in Tamale after a long struggle with gigantism and Marfan syndrome.
Ghana tallest man Sulemana Abdul Samed, better known as Awuche, has died in Tamale after years of living with gigantism and Marfan syndrome. He was 33. His death has stirred grief across northern Ghana, where many people knew him as a local figure whose height made him instantly recognizable.
Family members said he died in hospital on Monday in the northern city, about 160km south of his home village of Gambaga. He had been admitted after sores on his legs became infected. A relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, told the BBC that people continued to visit the family home to ask what had happened. He described Awuche as generous and kind, and said the community was deeply shaken by the news.
Awuche was measured by the BBC in late 2022 at 7ft 4in, or 223cm. He had been diagnosed with gigantism in his 20s and lived with the effects of Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affected the length of his limbs. Kudus said the sores on his legs were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome, but were likely tied to complications from the condition. Doctors had reportedly said he was responding well to treatment before he died on Monday morning.
The story of Awuche, as he was known to most people, reached beyond his village. His nickname comes from Hausa and means “Let’s Go.” Kudus said that wherever he went in Ghana, he would identify himself as being from Gambaga, and people would recognize the village as the home of the tallest man. That, he said, gave the community a sense of identity and brought him a strong following.
“Ghana tallest man Sulemana Abdul Samed, known as Awuche, has died in Tamale after a long struggle with gigantism and Marfan syndrome.”
His life changed sharply in his early twenties, when he began growing faster than the people around him. He told the BBC that he noticed first that his tongue had grown so much he could not breathe properly. Soon after, he realized that the rest of his body was also increasing in size. The condition eventually forced him to abandon his aim of becoming a driver and return to Gambaga nine years ago.
He also said Marfan syndrome limited his daily life and stripped away much of the athletic freedom he once enjoyed. He said he had played football like other young men, but later could not even manage short walks. Even so, at the time of the BBC report he was described as positive and comfortable with the attention that came with his unusual stature.
Medical costs had weighed heavily on him, but he recently found support from Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of Ghana’s President John Mahama, who also met him. The businessman had offered to pay his treatment bills at Tamale Teaching Hospital and gave an update earlier this month on the planned care. The family said they would bury Awuche in Tamale rather than Gambaga because his home village would have been overwhelmed by mourners. His death is a reminder of how rare medical conditions can affect not only a person’s health, but also the life and identity of an entire community.
Frequently asked questions
What did Awuche die from?
He died in a hospital in Tamale after being admitted with infected sores on his legs. The article says he had lived with gigantism and Marfan syndrome, and the sores were likely tied to complications from that condition.
How tall was Awuche?
The BBC measured him in late 2022 at 7 feet 4 inches, or 223 centimeters.
Why was Awuche well known in Ghana?
His exceptional height made him instantly recognizable, and people across Ghana knew him as the tallest man from Gambaga. His nickname, Awuche, is Hausa for “Let’s Go.”
Where will Awuche be buried, and why?
His family said he will be buried in Tamale instead of Gambaga. They said his home village would have been overwhelmed by mourners.
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