Award-winning Ghanaian singer-songwriter Eugene Kwame Marfo, popularly known as Kuami Eugene, has revealed that watching fellow musician Dennis Nana Dwamena, widely known as KiDi, compete in the MTN Hitmaker reality show motivated him to pursue the same competition that later became the launching pad for his own successful music career.

Speaking in an interview with content creator Headless YouTuber, Kuami Eugene recalled that his connection with Richard Mensah, popularly known as Richie Mensah, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lynx Entertainment, began long before he entered the competition.

According to the “Angela” hitmaker, he used to assist another Hitmaker contestant, Gunshot, during studio recording sessions. It was during one of those sessions that Richie Mensah noticed his musical ability and encouraged him to embark on an audition for the reality show.

He said: “There is this guy called Gunshot who was also in Hitmaker. I used to record him, and luckily for me, his producer was Richie Mensah. That’s how I met Richie. We recorded with him, and while we were in the studio, I was teaching the guy how to go about some of the verses. Richie then said I was good and asked why I hadn’t gone for Hitmaker. I told him I was preparing myself, so hopefully the following year I would be there.”

Kuami Eugene said he spent the following months preparing for the competition while paying close attention to KiDi’s performances on the show. He admitted that KiDi’s stage presence, confidence and uniqueness convinced him that the eventual Lynx Entertainment signee was destined to win the contest.

He further claimed that KiDi benefited from early guidance and industry support, which gave him an advantage over many of the contestants.

“That same year, it was KiDi’s era in Hitmaker, and he was performing. He had a red bandana on his head and was holding a guitar. I watched and tapped into the blessing. I told my friend that the following year, I would also be on this platform. I knew he was going to win because he was the fans’ favourite, and he was doing something different from the rest of them. It was later I got to know that even Lynx Entertainment was behind him when he was at Hitmaker, so that’s why he was doing things differently. The rest were coming from home to do it, but Lynx was behind KiDi, so he won with the experience and everything, the exposure around MzVee, Richie and DJ Vyrusky. That exposure is very much needed as an artiste,” he added.

The award-winning musician also disclosed that when he eventually auditioned for the next edition of Hitmaker, Richie Mensah immediately recognised him from their earlier studio encounter and recommended him to celebrated record producer David Kojo Kyei, professionally known as Kaywa.

He stated: “The following year, I went for the audition and Richie saw me there. He remembered me and told Kaywa that I was good.”

Kuami Eugene and KiDi both went on to become two of Lynx Entertainment’s biggest success stories, dominating Ghana’s music scene with multiple hit songs, awards and international recognition. Their journeys through Hitmaker and Lynx Entertainment have often been cited as examples of how talent, preparation, mentorship and the right opportunities can transform aspiring musicians into household names.

Watch the interview below: