Discipline and Acadamic Excellence Made me Who I Am – Nana Nkrumah

By Esther Korantemaa Offei

Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician Nana Nkrumah of Africa has traced his musical journey back to his formative years at St. John’s School, where discipline, academic excellence, and a strong school band culture shaped his career.

Speaking on Highway Jam on Zed FM, the seasoned artiste revealed that he was an active member of the famed Matthew Chapter Five school band, one of the most respected secondary school bands in the country at the time.

“St. John’s had the Matthew Chapter Five band, and it was very serious. You couldn’t just play music. You had to be academically sound first, otherwise they would take you out of the band,” Nana Nkrumah said.

He recalled sharing the musical space with notable contemporaries, including David Ampofo, Tricky Joe, and other talented students who later became influential musicians.

“Some of the boys were so good that others had to sit on the bench. That was how competitive it was,” he noted.

Nana Nkrumah disclosed that his decision to attend St. John’s was heavily influenced by seeing the school band perform on GTV while he was living in Cantonments, Accra.

“I loved music so much. When I saw the St. John’s band playing on television, I told my father that this was the school I wanted to attend,” he said.

Although he had initially passed to another school, he chose to wait an additional year just to gain admission into St. John’s. “I waited a whole year because I was determined to go to St. John’s,” he added.

His passion for music began long before secondary school. Growing up near a school that hosted weekend entertainment shows, he often helped bands offload equipment.

“I started by carrying drums and equipment. One day, the drummer asked if I could play, and when I sat behind the drums, that was it,” he recalled.

According to Nana Nkrumah, starting with drums gave him a strong musical foundation.

“Any musician who starts with drums becomes different. That’s why many great bass guitarists and keyboard players began as drummers,” he said.

Life in the St. John’s band came with strict rules. Academic failure meant instant removal.

“If you joke with your studies, by the time you return to school your name will be on the notice board, expelled from the band,” he said.

Despite their musical excellence, Nana Nkrumah revealed that the school authorities prevented the band from participating in some national competitions.

“They said if we went to Accra competitions and didn’t win first place, it would affect the school’s image. They knew we were very strong,” he explained.

Nana Nkrumah’s experiences at St. John’s laid the foundation for a lifelong career in music, reinforcing discipline, teamwork, and technical excellence.

“I knew from early on that I wanted to be a musician. That’s why I chose St. John’s,” he said.

His story highlights the significant role secondary school bands played in shaping Ghana’s music industry, particularly during the 1970s.