Renowned Ghanaian Highlife musician Kojo Antwi has shared how a deeply painful childhood experience influenced the emotional tone and direction of his music.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on February 6, 2026, the celebrated singer corroborated a story from his upcoming book, ‘Mr Music Man: The Journey,’ recounting how his mother once packed his few belongings and sent him to live with his father, instructing him never to return to her.
According to Kojo Antwi, the incident marked a turning point in his life.
He recalled that although his stepmother treated him with kindness, the absence of his biological mother left an emotional void.
“Anytime a child goes through challenges, the first person he runs to is his mother. A father will tell you to be strong or fight back, but a mother will console you, cuddle you and encourage you. I never had that,” he said.
Watch as Kojo Antwi serenades mourners with soulful performance at late mother’s funeral
The Highlife legend explained that the lack of maternal affection shaped his songwriting, noting that it is a major reason many of his songs are written from a woman’s perspective and are deeply emotional.
“I think it is part of what makes me write songs from the woman’s point of view and why my songs are so emotional,” he added.
Kojo Antwi further revealed that he did not see his mother again until he was about 19 years old. Despite the pain, he believes the separation was divinely orchestrated.
“I believe it was the hand of God. It was a divine plan that I had to be away from my mom and be with my dad and stepmother,” he said.
Today, Kojo Antwi remains one of Ghana’s most respected musicians, having shaped and inspired the direction of modern Ghanaian music.GhanaWeb
