Musician, Edward Nyame Osae charged with rape after Townsville Folk Festival

A Townsville man who was set to perform at a recent music festival has been charged with raping a woman at the event.

Edward Osae (Bob Karma) has been charged with four counts of rape that police allege occurred June 7, 2025.

A musician who was scheduled to perform at a North Queensland music festival has been charged with rape.

Edward Nyame Osae who is also known by his stage name, ‘Bob Karma’ was scheduled to perform at the Townsville Folk Festival that was held June 6 to June 8 this year.

He has been charged with four counts of rape, which police allege occurred June 7, at the festival.

No pleas have been entered.

Organisers from the festival have been contacted for comment and did not reply by deadline.

It’s understood that Mr Osae did not go ahead with his set after the alleged assaults occurred.

In 2015 the reggae-style musician was playing with the band Crossroads, and has more recently been playing as ‘Bob Karma’.

He released a song in 2022 called ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’.

The musician’s website described him as an “Australian Ghanaian Reggae, R&B artist’.

It also says he had “worked and toured extensively nationally and internationally” and “played most of Australia’s big festivals”.

Edward Osae, before he performed at the Blues and Roots Festival in the Venue, 2015.

Earlier this week Mr Osae’s charges were mentioned in the Townsville Magistrates Court where magistrate Richard Lehmann noted he was on bail for all charges.

Defence lawyer Andrew Peel told the court that a brief of evidence would take time to be disclosed.

“(The brief) won’t be completed within the next 12 months, DNA being the item that will take that long to disclose,” he said.

Police prosecutor Lennon Stathoulis said it was not only the DNA evidence that was outstanding.

“ … there is a combination of civilian as well as police statements, but DNA is the item that will take the longest,” he said.

Mr Lehmann adjourned the charges to December 3, Mr Osae’s appearance will not be required and he will remain on bail.

Originally published as Musician, Edward Nyame Osae charged with rape after Townsville Folk Festival