Abraham Philip Akpor Kojo Kainya, widely known as Lord Kenya, remains a legendary figure in Ghana’s music history. Once one of the biggest names in the Hiplife era, a blend of hip-hop and highlife that defined the late ’90s, he gained fame for his powerful stage presence and raw storytelling.
Born on September 19, 1978, to an Nzema father and an Asante mother, his passion for music began early. Though his parents hoped he’d become a lawyer, a performance at his father’s birthday party convinced them otherwise. By 17, after excelling as a track athlete at Kumasi Anglican Secondary School, he chose music full-time.
In 1998, Lord Kenya joined Slip Music and released his debut album Sika Card, which became a nationwide hit. Songs like “Enyom No” and “Medo” earned him top awards, including Hiplife Album of the Year at the 2001 Ghana Music Awards and Best Ghanaian Rap Music Award at the 2000 Anansekrom Festival in Canada. His follow-up albums Sika Baa and Yeesom Sika kept him at the top, cementing his legacy as a Hiplife icon.
But everything changed in 2010 when Lord Kenya experienced a deep spiritual transformation. That year, he shocked fans by announcing he was leaving secular music to dedicate his life to God. By 2018, he had become a full-time pastor and founded the Face of Grace Covenant Temple in Kumasi. For the past 15 years, he has focused on evangelism and gospel work, even collaborating with gospel artists such as Rev. Seth Frimpong and Joe Beecham. His story has since inspired many, including rapper Kwaw Kese, whom he mentored during a rough period in his life.
Now 47, Pastor Lord Kenya continues to use his platform to inspire others with his powerful messages. In a recent preaching, the preacher man warned Ghanaians about the dangers of bad friendships and misleading advice. Reflecting on his past, he shared how negative peer influence once led him astray.
“Friends introduced me to alcohol,” he said. “They told me not to worry that if I got drunk, I’d sober up later. But that was the beginning of trouble.”
He went on to recall meeting another friend who introduced him to smoking cannabis a man he now calls “wicked.” This friend would reportedly leave marijuana ready for him before going to work, saying, “Kojo, I’m leaving smoke, and I’ll be back.” Looking back, Lord Kenya said such people weren’t real friends but traps meant to destroy him.
“Be careful about your friends and the kind of advice they give,” he warned. “Some people come into your life only to cause disgrace or lead you to your downfall. Always think deeply about their advice if it doesn’t benefit you, reject it and pray for God to remove such people from your life.”
He added that many people’s regrets in life often come from bad company: “Friends introduce you to bad habits and later laugh at you when things go wrong.”
Lord Kenya’s message comes at a time when many public figures are opening up about their own journeys of change and redemption. His story serves as a reminder that growth often comes through lessons learned the hard way. Today, as head pastor of his church, he continues to preach worldwide, combining his musical passion with spiritual purpose.
His advice to all is simple yet profound: choose your friends wisely, seek God’s direction, and let go of anything or anyone that holds you back.
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