Kuami Eugene says he’s tired of being boxed into highlife category

Ghanaian music star Kuami Eugene has opened up about his growing frustration with being consistently labeled as a highlife artiste, despite his efforts to explore multiple musical styles.

Speaking in an interview on Joy Prime, the “Monica” hitmaker revealed that while he appreciates the recognition he has received over the years, repeatedly winning the Highlife Artiste of the Year award at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards has started to feel limiting.

According to him, the excitement that once came with the title gradually faded as he began to feel confined to a single genre. “I was tired two years ago because I wanted somebody to win some,” he said, explaining that he hopes to see diversity not only in his music but also in how he is recognized.

Kuami Eugene stressed that his artistic vision goes beyond highlife, noting that he has consistently worked to produce music across various genres including Afrobeats, Afropop, drill, and dancehall. He emphasized that his ultimate goal is to be acknowledged as a versatile musician rather than one defined by a specific sound.

“I don’t want to be known for just Highlife. I want to be known for producing good music,” he stated.

The award-winning artiste also disclosed that he was not fully aware of the categories he had been nominated in for this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards until it was mentioned during the interview. He has secured nominations in the Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste and Best Highlife Artiste categories.

Reflecting on his journey in the music industry, Kuami Eugene noted that although his success in highlife has played a significant role in shaping his brand, it does not fully represent his creative range. He described himself as an all-round artiste committed to evolving and pushing boundaries.