In a candid revelation that has sent ripples through the Ghanaian music industry, Afrobeat sensation Kuami Eugene has disclosed that his 2019 chart-topping hit, “Ohemaa,” was almost a solo effort.
Speaking in a recent interview with Headless YouTuber, the “Rockstar” opened up about the behind-the-scenes friction regarding the track, specifically his initial refusal to feature his then-label mate, KiDi.
According to Eugene, the decision to include KiDi on the record was not his own, but rather a directive from his record label. Despite his vocal reluctance, the singer says he was “compelled” by the label to add the feature.
“Sometime ago, we were at the studio having a conversation and then they said I need to put KiDi on Ohemaa, and I said I won’t do it. I don’t want to have KiDi on Ohemaa, and the label says it’s needed, I have to do it. So I had to do it,” Eugene shared.
The tension didn’t end in the studio. Eugene recounted warning the label that if he went for interviews, he would be honest about his lack of creative control over the collaboration. He claims the label jokingly encouraged him to speak his mind, a move they would soon regret.
Staying true to his word, Eugene mentioned his reluctance in his very first interview following the song’s release. The honesty sparked immediate online chatter, forcing the label into “damage control” mode.
“They jokingly said I should go and say it, and when I went, that was the first thing I said. And they were like ‘eii’, so we had to do damage control quickly and post KiDi and me together to cover it quickly,” he disclosed.
Explaining the root of his hesitation, the “Monica” hitmaker emphasized that his resistance wasn’t personal toward KiDi, but rather a matter of artistic integrity. He felt “Ohemaa” was already a “complete, beautiful song” and didn’t want any additional “touch on it.”