Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician Obuoba JA Adofo has revealed that he was once strongly against his son, Rubean Adofo, also known as Adofo Jnr, turning music into a full-time profession, citing fears about what he described as the darker side of the industry.
In an interview with Nayas, the veteran performer said he had hoped his son would pursue a more conventional career path and even went as far as enrolling him in a computer school to study computer engineering.
That plan, however, did not hold. Adofo Jnr was intent on carving his own path in music, following the legacy of his father despite the objections.
JA Adofo said his resistance was shaped by personal experiences at the height of his career, when he believed envy and spiritual manipulation were widespread in the music scene.
“I enrolled him in a computer school, but he refused to continue. He insisted that he wanted to follow in my footsteps and become a musician. I told him I couldn’t allow it because, during my prime, there was a lot of juju in the music industry. If you weren’t careful, someone could destroy your life,” he said.
He went on to describe music as a hazardous profession in Ghana, recalling incidents involving fellow musicians whose deaths, in his view, could not be explained by natural causes and were instead linked to jealousy within the industry.
Despite his initial reluctance, JA Adofo said his stance eventually changed when he recognised the crucial role his son played in sustaining the family’s musical legacy.
He recounted a period when every member of the City Boys Band had left, leaving the group on the brink of collapse. According to him, Adofo Jnr stepped in and kept the band afloat, a contribution he now describes as invaluable.
Today, leadership of the City Boys Band International has officially transitioned to Adofo Jnr, who now directs the celebrated highlife ensemble.
The group remains a prominent name in Ghana’s live music scene, known for its energetic performances and long-standing influence across the continent.
It has also been recognised at major industry events, including Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2019 3Music Awards and the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA).
Under Adofo Jnr’s direction, the band continues to perform at key national events such as Independence Day celebrations and regional durbars, while also touring internationally in countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Nigeria, extending the legacy established by its founder.
Watch what he said below.
@nayaas.official I never wanted my son to do music because of Juju – J.A Adofo Experiences in Life with Nayas 1. #nayas1 #angeltv #jaadofo
♬ original sound – Nayaas Official
