Years after “Ohemaa” became one of Ghana’s standout collaborations, Kuami Eugene has opened up about the tension behind the hit, revealing he never intended to feature KiDi on the song in the first place.
Speaking in an interview with Headless YouTuber, the “Rockstar” singer said the decision to include his former label mate came from the record label, not him. According to Eugene, he had already completed the track and felt it did not need another voice.
He recalled resisting the idea when it was first suggested in the studio, but eventually gave in after pressure from the label.
“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.
“I remember telling them that if I go for an interview, I will go and say I didn’t want to put KiDi on Ohemaa. 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 revealed.
The comments, according to Eugene, quickly stirred reactions online and forced the label into a swift public relations response to calm speculation about a possible rift between the two artistes.
Explaining why he initially opposed the feature, the “Monica” hitmaker said he believed the song was already complete before KiDi joined the record.
“I didn’t want to put KiDi on Ohemaa because I did the entire verse and it was a complete, beautiful song. I didn’t want any touch on it,” he added.
Kuami Eugene also used the interview to explain his long-standing preference for working alone, saying collaborations do not come naturally to him despite being in the industry for years.
“I actually find it very difficult to feature. If you check, Gyakie is the first female artiste I have featured, beside MzVee, and it’s been almost ten years. I don’t like features. Check all my hit songs, it’s just me. Most of the songs I cook them in my bed. I wake up at dawn, have my laptop with a headset, and cook the song,” he stressed.
Watch his statement below.
@theheadlessyoutuber #Talktokula ♬ original sound – Headless YouTuber
