
Kwesi Selassie, also known as "The Lion of Africa" was born in Sekondi Takoradi. Although he was born and raised in Takoradi, he hails from Agona Nsaba, in the central region. At the tender age of 11, he began singing and playing the guitar. He would simply sit under the palm trees, exploding with curiosity while experimenting with wires placing them over empty tomato cans and successfully manufacturing his own guitar. Other instruments, such as the bass guitar, drums, percussion and piano would continue to arouse his interest and he would not be satisfied until he learned of each of their worth. It would not be long until his Takoradi secondary school classmates and everyone in his hometown would know him as the Musical Princeâ.
Having been strongly influenced by Mom & Dad, Kwesi
decided to move to London, in pursuit of a career in law. Like all
parents, Mr. Kweku Sackey-Selassie and his wife, the Queen Mother Nana
Baah Agyekum 1, encouraged Kwesi to strive for a professional career fit
for his title of Prince. However, his drive to become a musician was
far too strong to be reversed. After three years of pleasing the
parents, Kwesi ended his preliminary studies in law at much
disappointment from his parents and returned to Ghana to embrace his
first love, music.

Kwesi later began his travels, touring, and recording his
own albums as a songwriter and self-taught musician. The first move was
to Quebec City, Canada in 1993 by invitation of his friend, who later
became his manager, Mario Gauthier. In addition to writing, arranging
and singing his own songs, he is also a self-taught artist who plays the
bass guitar, drums and percussion. As a multitalented artist, not only
does he sing in his original language (Fanti) but has also captured the
hearts of many fans with the ability to speak and sing fluent English,
French, Jula and ten other African dialects.

In 1995, Kwesi was the first Continental African to ever be
invited to perform at the 11th Canadian Reggae Music Awards and the
first African to ever be nominated in 1997 for his CD titled 'False
Prophets', and nominated again in 1999 for 'Judgment Day' as the Top
Reggae Album of the Year. In November 1999, Kwesi took the African Music
Awards in Toronto, Canada by storm as he was the only artist nominated
in four of the ten categories for the Best Album, Composer, Release and
was ultimately awarded the Best Producer of the Year for his forth album
Judgment Day.
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