They called me ‘Kaywa’, I didn’t even like it at first - David Kojo Kyei

For a name now synonymous with music excellence in Ghana, “Kaywa” did not begin as a brand, it began as a label he resisted.

Long before he became one of the country’s most respected producers, David Kojo Kyei recalls a time when the nickname felt uncomfortable, even misplaced. It emerged during his school years, coined by peers who recognised his unusual musical ability.

He could play multiple instruments piano, guitar, drums often without formal training. To them, he was “key” a gifted one. Over time, that evolved into “Kaywa.”

But he did not embrace it.

“I kept saying I don’t like it,” he explains in an interview with MzGee, reflecting on how the name spread despite his resistance. What began within a small circle quickly extended across school and social spaces, until it became impossible to shake off.

Ironically, the name he tried to reject would later become central to his identity in the music industry.

Kaywa’s journey into music itself was not accidental. From as early as five years old, he was deeply embedded in church, playing instruments and gradually stepping into leadership roles. By his teenage years, he was directing choirs including groups made up of adults significantly older than him.

Music, for him, was instinctive.

Yet, outside that natural progression was a different expectation one shaped by family. His father had envisioned a career in law, a more traditional and secure path. Music, particularly at the level Kaywa was pursuing it, did not immediately fit that vision.

Still, he persisted.

Over time, consistency and output began to redefine perception. His productions gained attention, his name the very one he once resisted began to circulate within industry spaces, and eventually, recognition reached home.

The turning point came when his work aired on BBC, a station his father frequently listened to. That moment reframed everything. What once seemed uncertain became tangible.

Today, “Kaywa” is no longer just a nickname. It is a signature attached to a catalogue of influential productions and a legacy within Ghanaian music.

What makes the story compelling is not just the name itself, but the journey behind accepting it. Sometimes, identity is not chosen outright it is grown into.

In all, Kaywa remains a defining force behind the scenes of Ghana’s music industry bridging secular and gospel sounds through hits like “Adonai” by Sarkodie featuring Castro, and “Bye Bye” by Asem and Kwabena Kwabena, as well as spirit-filled gospel productions such as “Mo Ne Yo’ by Diana Hamilton.

Through his work as a producer, mentor, and founder of Highly Spiritual Music, his legacy continues to grow as both a hitmaker and a purpose-driven leader.