Ghanaian folk musician Kofi Bruce shares Philomina single

‘Philomina’ is the musician’s second song of 2022, and concludes a trilogy addressing love and the moral crisis of marital infidelity – the others being ‘Aketesia’ and ‘Martha Matter’.

Thematically, ‘Philomina’ narrates the story of a married man caught in an affair with an unassuming church girl. In its composition, the song makes use of witty storytelling and listens as a smooth, folkloric offering driven by the Afrikyewa, a local thumb bell.

The musician told Music In Africa that the broad idea of the songs is to “tell stories about issues plaguing men who are unable to speak about them due to certain societal perceptions about them.” 

He added: “I discuss this topic in a very jovial manner. Life is already hard, so I give them a safe and peaceful space to address these themes.”

Hailing from Takoradi in Ghana’s Western Region, Kofi Bruce’s sound draws from folk, highlife, soul and jazz, among others. The musician told Music In Africa that the resultant sound, which he describes as ‘palm wine music’, is tribute to the very roots of Ghanaian music, and constitutes his unique modern take on ancestral melodies. 

Kofi Bruce is due to release his first collection  –  an EP –  in the coming months. He describes the upcoming project as one that will showcase authentic Ghanaian sounds as well as Afrobeats. He added that it will take listeners on a “fun-filled journey that also promises self-actualisation.”