Ghanaian highlife icon Julius Kojo Antwi, widely known as Kojo Antwi or “Mr Music Man,” has raised concerns about what he describes as a worrying gap in the documentation of Africa’s rich musical heritage, noting that many of the continent’s legendary musicians have failed to record their life stories for future generations.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the veteran musician said this absence of written histories inspired him to chronicle his own journey in a new memoir titled Mr Music Man: The Journey.
“As a musician, I already write with words through my songs, but that is not enough,” Kojo Antwi explained. “Often, what you see is just a short newspaper caption saying I performed somewhere. People like Nana Ampadu should have written books about their lives.”
Reflecting on his early ambitions, Kojo Antwi said he longed to learn more about African music greats who influenced him, only to discover that very little had been documented.
“When I wanted to become a musician, I was looking for books on Osibisa, Hugh Masekela—though he wrote much later in life—and even Agya Koo Nimo, who is more of a lecturer. But there was nothing to read,” he said.
According to him, the lack of personal narratives from such influential figures pushed him to preserve his own experiences in writing.
“At some point, I realised I needed to put my story together. I have been privileged to meet many of the giants of African music, yet most of them never wrote about their lives. I felt it was important to do this,” he added.
Kojo Antwi is set to officially launch Mr Music Man: The Journey on Friday, February 13, at the Labadi Beach Hotel, offering fans and readers an intimate look into his life, career, and encounters with some of Africa’s most celebrated musicians.
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