Ghanaian modern highlife legend Akwasi Opoku, popularly known as Kwaisey Pee, has revealed that his rise to musical stardom was initially met with skepticism by his father.
In a lively interview on Y107.9FM’s Myd Morning Radio Show with host Rev Erskine, Kwaisey Pee reminisced about his formative years as a musician. “Music was natural; music was part of me growing up,” he shared.
Raised in a musical household, particularly the son of Highlife maestro Agya Aku (songwriter and founder of the Yamoah and Sumsum Band) Kwaisey Pee’s destiny seemed set. However, his father envisioned a different path. “My Dad was thinking I will be a footballer,” he stated.
He explained how intense his father’s commitment to this dream was saying, “I twisted my ankle and was hospitalized and my father came to the hospital with a new pair of boots and told me that I will still play; he turned deaf ears to all advice.”
The turning point came during an audition for his father’s band. “Out of 30 people, one Liberian guy was selected. He could not speak the local dialect properly but he was a good singer. But they needed another singer.”
Kwaisey Pee recalled how his talent was initially overlooked. But was hit by the spotlight from the leader of highlife band “At the age of 15-16 some of the guys were like Kwesi can do it but my dad was like no; so when the guys wanted to give me a chance, my Dad did not want that. When I was called to sing for them to then know I could do this, my Dad just got up and walked away.”
The KroKro hitmaker revealed that his father finally yielded to his career path after successfully bagging a number of prominent gigs. “When we did about two to three important gigs then after that he was like, if he says he would be a musician that is his choice.”
