They Said My Music Wasn’t Artiste of the Year Material — KiDi Reveals Painful Career Doubt

Award-winning Ghanaian musician KiDi has opened up about the doubts he faced early in his career and how they ultimately made his Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) Artiste of the Year triumph even more special.

Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey, KiDi recalled being told by an unnamed industry figure that the kind of music he produced was not suited to winning the prestigious Artiste of the Year category.

According to the singer, the person believed another artiste was better positioned to produce the type of music usually associated with the award.

“As for you, KiDi, the type of music you do is not for Artiste of the Year. We’ll package you differently, but your brother is the one who does Artiste of the Year type of songs.”

KiDi said the remark was painful at the time, but instead of allowing it to discourage him, he used it as motivation to improve his craft and prove that his music could compete at the highest level.

Years later, when he found himself among the contenders for the coveted award, the singer said the earlier comments came back to mind as he waited for the winner to be announced.

He described the experience as emotional, particularly because of the amount of work he had invested in his career.

“It was sad for me hearing that, but I had overcome that with all the work that I had done. Sitting in that moment, knowing it was a possibility for me to win, a lot was happening,” he said.

KiDi admitted that the excitement became overwhelming when his name was eventually announced. He said the moment was so intense that he cannot remember much of what he said during his acceptance speech.

“I don’t remember anything I said on that stage. I know I said words, but I blanked out,” he revealed.

Reflecting on the achievement, KiDi described winning the award as a surreal experience and a powerful form of recognition for his years of creativity and dedication.

“The euphoria of being on that stage… I don’t know how to describe it. Being recognised for creating something out of nothing is just a surreal feeling,” he added.

Beyond his personal achievement, KiDi said he continues to anticipate the TGMAs every year because the ceremony brings together Ghana’s leading musical talents.

He said he enjoys the performances, fashion, entertainment and even the unexpected moments that have become part of the awards night.

“I look forward to seeing all the talents in one place, all the songs that have taken over the year in one place, the glitz, the glamour, the stage performances and even the drama. Every year it brings drama, and I always look forward to it,” he said.

==