Long before it became one of Ghana’s most recognisable highlife anthems, Kwabena Kwabena’s hit track “Aso” was born in an unlikely setting, inside a crowded commercial bus.
The seasoned musician has disclosed that the inspiration for the celebrated song struck him while he was still a student at Accra Polytechnic. According to him, his daily commute between school and home became a creative hub where most of the material for the Aso album took shape.
Reflecting on that period, he explained that travelling by trotro offered him the quiet moments he needed to compose. He revealed that a significant portion of the album was written during those journeys.
“Aso was written in a trotro. That album, I would say I wrote about 70 to 80 percent of the songs in a trotro. Around that time, I was at Accra Poly. I would close from school, and I would walk from the school campus to Circle before I got a St John’s bus to go home,” he said.
Kwabena Kwabena noted that he deliberately chose to sit at the rear of the bus, where he could rest his file on his lap and focus on writing. He described those reflective trips as spiritually fulfilling, explaining that they often became moments where he felt divinely inspired to create music.
Two decades after its release, “Aso” remains one of his defining musical achievements and continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
Looking ahead, the highlife musician shared his long-term vision for his career, suggesting that he intends to slow down but remain active in music. He indicated that he hopes to transition into a more relaxed performance schedule while maintaining premium value for his appearances.
“Twenty years from now, I wouldn’t say I’d be retired, but I’d be relaxing and doing shows once a year, and I’d charge a million dollars,” Kwabena Kwabena divulged.
