How VIP’s ‘Ahomka Womu’ conquered Nigeria and inspired Patience Ozokwor’s own version

Long before African music became as accessible across borders as it is today, Ghanaian hiplife group VIP had Nigerians singing along to a song performed largely in Twi.

Their hit “Ahomka Womu” travelled beyond Ghana, found a home in Nigerian popular culture and became so familiar that Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, reworked its melody for her own song.

Released in 2003, “Ahomka Womu” became one of VIP’s most successful records and a notable Ghanaian musical export.

Its popularity in Nigeria was a reminder that a song did not need to be performed in the listener’s language to become a hit.

Nigerians embraced it at parties and on radio, while its influence eventually extended into the country’s entertainment industry.

How a Ghanaian hit found a home in Nollywood

One of the clearest illustrations of “Ahomka Womu’s” Nigerian appeal came through Patience Ozokwor, the veteran actress widely known as Mama G.

Rather than simply sing the Ghanaian song, Ozokwor reworked its melody for “Make We Jolly”, a song featuring fellow Nollywood stars Tonto Dike and Charles Awurum.

Her version blended English with Igbo, adapting the familiar musical idea for a Nigerian audience.

The connection between the two songs was later highlighted by The Native, which described Ozokwor’s “Make We Jolly” as a reworking of VIP’s 2003 classic.

From Nigerian movies to singing competitions

The song’s influence also became part of the wider nostalgia surrounding Ghanaian music’s popularity in Nigeria during the early 2000s.

At a time when Nigerian movies were making significant inroads into Ghanaian popular culture, old highlife classics and contemporary hits such as VIP’s “Ahomka Womu” could be heard featuring in many of these productions.

The popularity of VIP’s “Ahomka Womu” in Nigeria was evident on MTN Project Fame West Africa.

In September 2016, contestant Gabriel performed the Ghanaian hiplife hit during an elimination show, with fellow contestants joining him on stage to sing along.

Such moments also challenge the assumption that language is always a barrier to musical success.

Why ‘Ahomka Womu’ mattered for Ghanaian music

VIP’s success in Nigeria came at a time when Ghanaian hiplife was building a stronger presence beyond the country’s borders.

The success of “Ahomka Womu” was significant enough that the group signed with Nigerian label Kennis Music, which was associated with major Nigerian acts including 2Baba, Tony Tetuila and Eedris Abdulkareem.

Years later, the influence of “Ahomka Womu” continued to surface in other Nigerian music.

Wizkid’s 2017 song “Manya”, for example, drew comparisons to the familiar VIP hit, while D Jay’s 2021 “Yawa” remix incorporated elements of older Ghanaian and Nigerian classics.

These connections show how the song’s musical legacy extended beyond its original release.