With six previous full-length albums under his belt, Kwesi has just completed production on his seventh and most diverse release yet.

What makes this release so diverse is not only the 20 years of experience that Kwesi has now invested, but the range of artists he collaborated with, including Papa Levy from Jamaica, Latin songstress Bomba from Chile and a Russian artist named Sasha, among a few others.

An international fixture anywhere, Kwesi Selassie is a reggae artist with a royal name. Filled with amazing humility and an eclectic background, Kwesi sings and speaks in thirteen different languages and dialects in order to effectively communicate to a myriad of people. The languages most used in his music are English, French and Ghanaian dialects, Fante. Look out for this classic roots artist, on tour to promote his new album Promise Land, and after the Canadian tour you can find him in Europe, Africa and Australia. His world tour is anticipated to happen well into 2010; so look out for tour dates near you and tune in online to stay up to date.

By: Melissa Bessey

Kwesi Selassie, Son of Queen Mother Nana Baah Agyekum, was born and raised in Sekondi-Takoradi, in Western Ghana, and is fascinated with music, became known as the ‘prince of music’ by the tender age of 11. As the proud outcast of a royal family, Kwesi has a passion for relating to the people, and has toured the world performing original reggae music in not one, not two but over six differentlanguages. Elonn gets an exclusive look into the life of one of Africa’s greatest musical exports and explores his love of speaking for the people through his music.

Elonn: Describe the sound (or genre) of your music?
Kwesi: My music is a mix of Reggae and African music. Ghana traditional music is called high life and it contains many drums, guitar and horns mixed with local percussion instruments. I like all kinds of music as long as it is positive and educative, and caters for the youth, to help steer them in the right direction. What I do not like is music that is negative, and misleading, although what I like best is reggae; it does not matter what genre, as long as it is very conscious and for the benefit of all people.

Elonn: As a youth, what inspired you to make music?
Kwesi: In school, we had music education but I was never there as a ‘good’ student. I was always doing my own thing, not following the rules or theory. I got into trouble all the time for drumming on the desks, and tables, but I just felt compelled to make my own music. I was born with music in my blood, and it has been evident since my primary school. I still have documents that teachers sent to my parents telling them about my drumming and making music all the time, getting into trouble.

My grandmother was a great inspiration, she would come home from church on Sundays singing the hymns and I loved listening to her.

Elonn: What is your music about?
Kwesi: Culture! Although I am from a royal family, I consider myself an outcast because I always do the opposite of what my family would want me to do. When I look at people, I see suffering in the entire world, I see politicians promising to deliver in terms of what is happening today; when they want to win an election they make all kinds of promises, but when they get into power, they don’t care (about) the people. I see the cries of the people and this really inspires me to let the people know through music.

Elonn: How do you feel about Obama becoming president?
Kwesi: it is a big change for all of us, not just black people alone, and for so many years, US politics has been on one side of a race, but America itself is not only one race, so the power shift gives other people a chance to succeed.

Elonn: Who is your favourite artist that you have collaborated or performed with throughout your career?
Kwesi: That person would definitely be Buju Banton whom I did three tracks with in my 1998 album called “Judgement Day” recorded here in Toronto.