Highlife legend Kojo Antwi has revealed that his new book, “Mr Music Man – The Journey,” was inspired by a deeply personal need to document his life story — something he believes many great artistes of his generation failed to do.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily with Nana Tuffuor on Channel One TV on Thursday, February 12, the Afro-pop icon explained that the book is carefully structured into three main parts. The opening section, titled “Discovering My Passion,” focuses on his early beginnings and how he first fell in love with music.
According to Kojo Antwi, the publication offers readers an intimate look into his formative years, including his experiences as a band member, his time in the studio, and the lessons that shaped his decades-long career in Ghana’s music industry.
Beyond recounting his achievements, the highlife maestro said the book was born out of a gap he personally experienced while growing up as a young musician searching for direction.
“Most of the time, you don’t have the actors writing the book,” he stated during the interview.
Kojo Antwi explained that during his youth, he actively searched for books and written accounts about music legends he admired. Among those he mentioned were Ghanaian icons such as Nana Ampadu, Pat Thomas, and Agya Koo Nimo, as well as international groups including Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool & The Gang.
“I wanted something to read on them because I wanted to learn where things didn’t go right for them so that I could shape my world, but there was nothing,” he said.
According to him, the absence of documented experiences from the very artistes he looked up to left him without a roadmap. That void ultimately motivated him to take matters into his own hands.
“At a certain point, I felt I had to put my ideas together as a book,” he added.
Kojo Antwi believes that documenting one’s journey is essential not only for preserving history but also for mentoring the next generation. He hopes “Mr Music Man – The Journey” will serve as more than just a memoir. Instead, he envisions it as a practical guide for aspiring musicians seeking insight into the realities of the music industry — including its challenges, mistakes, and triumphs.
Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most enduring and influential music icons, Kojo Antwi has enjoyed a career spanning several decades, earning him respect both locally and internationally. His smooth blend of highlife and Afro-pop has produced timeless classics and cemented his reputation as “Mr Music Man.”
The book is set to be officially launched on February 13, and expectations are high among fans and industry stakeholders who see it as a significant addition to Ghana’s musical literature.
With this publication, Kojo Antwi joins a growing number of African creatives who are taking control of their narratives, ensuring that their stories are preserved for generations to come.
