One young, Ghanaian musician, whose music stimulates both the young and the old is Emmanuel Samini, known simply in showbiz as Samini. Since his emergence on the music scene in 2004 with his maiden album, Dankwansre, he has grown both in stature and popularity.
Next week, he will be in Nigeria for the Hip Hop World Music Award, where he has been nominated for the Best Artiste Award.
Originally born into a Catholic family, Samini attributes his rise to stardom to the meticulous way he selects his lyrics and the value he has for the teeming music fraternity which makes it mandatory for him to add real value to whatever he is putting out there for public consumption. Samini says all he thinks and does is music.
In a chat with The Mirror at Asasease Studios at Dansoman SSNIT Flats in Accra, where he is currently working on his yet-to-be released album, Samini said his last release of Samini really caught on well with the fans and they are calling for more but he did not want to rush in response to their huge demand.
Hear him: “I have been doing a lot of work towards my next album. You know I come out every two years and at the moment I am in the studios preparing. I know my fans are eager to hear what I have for them this time. I hope they exercise patience. I have taken all the criticisms and advice from people on board and I am planning something great for music lovers.”
Samini, originally called Batman, said he changed that name to maintain originality and assures his fans that he would come out with his brand new album before the end of the first half of the year.
Talking about his performances at local and international events, Samini agreed that his shows have been great and believes he could do better. “I love live performances, to showcase my style. However, it has not been easy to convince promoters to provide the platform for live performances”.
According to Samini, his desire for live shows is unsurpassable and if fans can remember, he launched his second album live on television. He insists that all musicians must embrace the idea of live shows instead of the miming that takes place, because it brings out the authenticity and originality of a musician.
He revealed that he is worming his way into the hearts of the international audience, judging by the invitations he had received so far.
According to him, previously he used to perform for only the Ghanaian community in the UK, South Africa and other foreign countries but these days his invitation has gone beyond the Ghanaian communities. He has performed on the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) in the United Kingdom, and in 2006 won the Best African Artiste. From there he went to Channel “0″ in South Africa.
Samini believes that one’s hard work determines how much reward one receives.
He hopes to keep on playing music until the Almighty decides otherwise at Dansoman in Accra.
Samini, a native of Wa in the Upper West Region, was born and bred in Accra. He started school at the Holy Family Catholic JHS at Mataheko in Accra and continued at the St Margaret Mary Senior Secondary School, also in Accra.
According to him, he discovered his talent very early in life and just after secondary school he decided to pursue that talent.
He is the fifth born of the six children between his mother, Theresa Samini, who he says brews the best pito in Accra, and dad, Andrew Samini. The young, internationally acclaimed musician said he took divine inspiration from the late Bob Marley, the Steel Pulse and Buju Banton.
According to him he represents the people and that explains why MTN, the leading telecommunication giant, used him to get their product to the people.
Asked about the challenges that confront him in his profession and the
pressure from his female fans, Samini responded with a smile and said, “I know I have a lot of female fans but I don’t take undue advantage of them”.
Apart from playing music, Samini, a rastafarian enjoys horse riding, farming and playing with crocodiles.
He is single and has a four-year-old daughter, Toyila.
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