Kuami Eugene Opens Up About Darkest Phase of His Life Since Rise to Fame

Afrobeats and Highlife artiste Kuami Eugene has opened up about a difficult two-year period marked by the loss of his grandmother and father, a near-fatal accident, and online speculation, describing it as the darkest phase since he rose to fame.

“I think I had this year that I lost almost everything and a lot of important people in my life,” he said.

“I lost my grandma whom I was really close to and I lost my dad. I think the next year and then there was one or two family issues going on,” he said in an interview.

The artiste said the losses coincided with an accident that nearly cost him his life. He spent about four months in hospital, a period during which he was unable to perform and lost his primary source of income from live shows.

“During that same year I had an accident and then I just thank God that when all these things were happening I had enough money. That was the only thing that saved me,” he said.

“My surgery, then I have to travel, then bury my dad and my grandmother and everything… everything came together.”

The musician explained that while his songwriting and streaming royalties continued to generate income, it was not enough to replace the earnings from performances.

“For about four months everything was on halt. No show because your hand is broken,” he said.

“That four months means no show, no income, because that’s where I make the money. The only place I was making money from was the songs I’ve written and the songs I personally have that is paying me.”

Kuami Eugene, who said he typically performs about three shows every weekend at weddings, birthday parties, and national events, noted that the pause in live work created a significant financial gap.

“It should be the show money… this is the Kuami that plays about three shows every weekend,” he said.

The period was compounded by online speculation about his condition. He said some social media users claimed he had died and shared old videos as supposed proof.

“Instead of people to emotionally support me, it was ‘I bet you Eugene is dead right now’… ‘the family just doesn’t want to tell us that he’s dead’,” he said.

“That’s the price you pay for being a celebrity.”

He compared the experience to challenges faced by other public figures, saying public expectations often ignore the personal struggles behind a celebrity’s image.

“Sometimes you’re just out of the surgery room, you’ve been through something really hard, you go on social media and they are attacking the exact thing you’re trying to mend,” he said.

“They expect you to be the big muscle man and face reality… they expect you to fight life like you’re a demigod.”

Kuami Eugene said he has never spoken publicly about the experience before, describing it as something he has kept private until now.

“That’s the darkest deed I’ve ever had since I became this Kwami Eugene but thank God I was able to overcome all these.”

He added that the experience changed his perspective on public attention and criticism, saying it is impossible to please everyone.

Story by Linda Asare