Kojo Antwi Urges African Music Legends to Document Their Life Stories
Ghanaian highlife icon Julius Kojo Antwi, popularly known as Kojo Antwi or “Mr. Music Man,” has raised concerns about the lack of documented life stories from Africa’s celebrated musicians, urging industry legends to preserve their legacies in writing.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the veteran artiste reflected on the importance of documentation in shaping cultural memory and inspiring future generations. His remarks come ahead of the launch of his memoir titled Mr Music Man: The Journey.
Preserving Musical Heritage
Kojo Antwi explained that throughout his career, he has observed that many influential African musicians leave behind little written record of their personal journeys, struggles, and achievements.
“As a musician and as an artiste, I write with words in songs. What you see is just a little caption in a newspaper that I am performing at an event,” he said. “Someone like Nana Ampadu should have come up with a book.”
According to him, the absence of detailed biographies creates a gap in Africa’s cultural and musical history.
A Personal Motivation
The highlife legend revealed that during his formative years, he sought inspiration from established African musicians but struggled to find books or detailed accounts about their lives.
“When I wanted to be a musician, I wanted to read something on Osibisa band, Hugh Masekela — he wrote in the later part of his life. I wanted to read about Agya Koo Nimo because he is more of a lecturer. But there was nothing,” he noted.
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That experience, he said, became a turning point. Realizing the importance of preserving personal experiences for future musicians and historians, Kojo Antwi decided to document his own story.
“Somewhere along the way, I thought I should put together what I have been through. I have been privileged to meet with all the giants in African music, and many of them don’t write about themselves. So, I felt the need to come up with a book,” he added.
Launch of Mr Music Man: The Journey
Kojo Antwi is scheduled to officially launch his memoir on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. The book chronicles his decades-long career in Ghanaian and African music, offering insights into his creative process, collaborations, and experiences in the industry.
Cultural commentators say the publication contributes to preserving Ghana’s highlife heritage and documenting the evolution of African contemporary music.
As Africa’s creative industry continues to expand globally, experts argue that documenting artistic journeys is essential to safeguarding the continent’s rich cultural history.
