Ghanaian artist Ayisi, known offstage as Emmanuel Kwadwo Oware, has opened up about the quiet perseverance that defined his decade-long journey through the music industry — a journey that recently earned him the prestigious Record of the Year award at the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
Speaking in an interview on Joy Prime’s Changes with Roselyn Felli, Ayisi reflected on the years when, despite consistent efforts in the studio, he remained largely under the radar in mainstream music circles.
“I took a break because I wasn’t going for interviews and was handling some personal stuff too,” he said. “But I was always going back to the studio to record and getting ready for the right moment when everything had settled, because I’m not the type of person who will wait for everything to cool down before I take action. I was still recording and going to the studio, doing what I should be doing, and when the right moment came, I’m out here again.”
Ayisi’s breakout moment came in 2016 with the hit single Grind, but the anticipated rise to fame that followed never quite materialized. Still, he continued to create, fueled not by fame but by conviction.
He revealed that during the years of relative obscurity, he always remained ready, recording, refining, and preparing for an opportunity to show what he was capable of. “Regardless of the fact that his work was not widely known, he never stopped creating, so he could showcase his worth whenever he was asked to provide evidence of his efforts.”
When asked whether he felt pressure seeing contemporaries like KiDi and Kuami Eugene rise to fame, Ayisi offered a powerful insight: “Now I’ve realized that some people are not made for the fame and all of the other stuff; some people are made for purpose.”
For him, that distinction was vital — knowing that his path was different helped him stay grounded. “Therefore, it is incumbent upon individuals to identify what they are made for, align with their purpose, and continue doing their best,” he advised.
He admitted that there were moments of concern, but those feelings never overwhelmed his determination. “At one point, he was worried, but it did not discourage him, as he realized he could not compare himself to others—only to himself.”
Though his 2022 track Can I Live didn’t initially attract widespread attention, it slowly gained traction over time. In 2024, it received a nod from industry gatekeepers, earning him a nomination — and eventual win — at the 2025 TGMAs.
