Kahpun fuses Ghanaian flavour into reggae music

Growing up, it was expected that Samuel Ampah would follow in the family tradition and become an academic like his father and siblings. However, this rebel had a cause, and it was to be a reggae singer whose purpose and passion is to create the kind of music that would inspire the world.

Ghanaian by birth, but Jamaican by choice, Kahpun is an award-winning artiste from the Cape Coast. Known as the 'African Eagle', Ampah chose his stage name carefully as he shared he wanted one that epitomizes both strength and leadership.

"To me, Al Capone was a leader who controlled turf and made bold moves so I chose the name 'Kahpun' and gave it an African twist with the spelling, because I'm a leader of a musical army, which is my fan base," he said.

Kahpun, 36, recently performed at the Bob Marley tribute concert in Kingston.

"It was a one-of-a-kind experience and one of the biggest stages I have been on in Jamaica," he told THE STAR.

The entertainer, who sounded like a reggae singer, said he spent years honing his craft, and now feels his hard work is paying off.

"It took me years to master the patois and the accent, and both are very important when you are speaking the language," he said of his sound.

From early on, Jamaican music and culture were his focus. "My big brother used to play Bob Marley and Steel Pulse. My bucket list always had coming to Jamaica, and when I did, it was like I've always been here. I just fitted in and got to working with some great Jamaican music producers who taught me a lot."

Reggae, he added has a huge influence in Ghana.

"There is a lot of emerging talent in the genre that is doing well. There are Ghanaians who only do reggae music. There is a whole untapped market there waiting to be developed. Ghanaians absolutely love Jamaica; you see it everywhere, as there is a replication of all things Jamaican," Kahpun said.

Though he listens to and credits many Jamaican artistes' influence on his style of musical delivery, there are two that stand above the rest.

"Sizzla Kalonji, because he is versatile with his tone and voice. He can do anything on any hits. And because I love dancehall too, I listen to a lot of Vybz Kartel. I love his wordplay, metaphors, and his creativity," Kahpun said.