Popular Ghanaian MC and hypeman Kojo Manuel has described how the country’s shift in attitude towards his profession actually saved his life.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb’s Elsie Lamar, he revealed that he had left his formal job to focus on his craft, explaining that although he initially struggled to make money in the field, the growth of the MCing space has validated his decision.
“I had a 9-5 job where I would clock in at 8, work till 5, and even had to do overtime. But as much as I loved that job, there was always a calling of ‘This is what I want to do,’ so I decided to quit my 9-5 to focus on the MCing and the hype, even getting into radio.
“From the beginning, it was very difficult to make proper money out of it. When people were booking me at first, they were like, ‘I don’t really need you, but I just want someone to come and shout to make the show extra,’” he recalled on the Talkertainment show.
Some MCs are paid with bottles of drinks, airtime and girls – Kojo Manuel reveals
However, things have now changed, as every major event requires an MC, which makes his decision worthwhile.
“So, for it to get to that point where every major event requires an MC, it made my decision to quit my job make sense, because what if it never worked out? I would have had to go back. I wouldn’t have survived.
“But now every weekend, I have something to do. So it saved my life,” he said.
According to him, the industry is gradually recognising the importance of MCs and hypemen, and he hopes that respect for their craft will continue to grow.
“I’m very happy with where it’s going… We are getting to the part where people have realised that an MC or hypeman is not someone random; we have to give them that respect. And I hope it doesn’t go sideways,” he said.
Watch the full video below:
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