Konnected Minds Podcast
Episode Segment: From Osu Stadium to Akwaaba UK – The Untold Story Behind Ghana's December Revolution
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Guest: Dennis Tewia (Founder of Akwaaba UK and Miss Ghana UK)
Date: April 2, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the personal and entrepreneurial journey of Dennis Tewia, the architect behind major Ghanaian cultural events in the UK, including Akwaaba UK and Miss Ghana UK. Host Derrick Abaitey and Dennis discuss Dennis's childhood in Osu, moving to the UK, origins in football, challenges in event promotion, influence on the Ghanaian diaspora, and untold contributions to "Dirty December." The conversation is honest, reflective, and packed with hard-earned insights on success, loss, resilience, and cultural impact.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Childhood in Osu and Family Dynamics (02:45–05:11)
- Dennis was raised as the firstborn among 14 siblings, with parents living apart but within walking distance.
- His father, a barrister and chairman of Accra Folk Football Club, was influential but often busy. His mother worked in department stores and ran a poultry farm.
- Dennis spent most of his upbringing with his mother and a smaller group of siblings.
- He admired his father for moving the entire family to the UK for political reasons, seeing it as a sacrifice and opportunity.
"I never wanted to be a better version of my dad. I just, I look up so much to him and for what he's done for all other siblings, you know, especially moving us from Ghana to the UK, all 14 siblings to me. That's great."
— Dennis Tewia (04:52)
2. Transition from Ghana to the UK (05:24–07:08)
- Dennis's move to the UK as a child was abrupt and not by choice. At 12 years old, he left friends and dreams of a football career in Ghana.
- The experience was initially traumatic — he describes being scared, unfamiliar with basic things like escalators, and frequently crying due to homesickness.
"I was crying most of the time when I was there... I just really wanted to come back. I've left friends behind."
— Dennis Tewia (06:13)
3. Early Aspirations and Football Dreams (06:39–07:59)
- Dennis deeply wanted to be a footballer, influenced by his proximity to Osu Stadium and his father's football connections.
- He was recognized as a talented youth player, targeted by top youth teams in Ghana, such as Harbor City (Tema) and Pfizer Football Team.
"I really wanted to be a footballer. And I felt I had a chance to be a footballer if I was here in Ghana."
— Dennis Tewia (06:46)
- Upon relocating, family expectations shifted toward education, but Dennis struggled to adapt, preferring football to school in the UK.
4. Parental Expectations and Early Rebellion (08:09–09:02)
- While Dennis's mother was known for her hard work, his father's priority was education for his children, especially in the UK.
- Dennis admits to skipping school in favor of other pursuits, signaling early entrepreneurial and independent tendencies.
"He would support you. When I told him school wasn't for me... In fact, at the time, he got to find out that I wasn't going to school, because I'll always leave home in London... you get a report that shows that I've not been attending school."
— Dennis Tewia (08:44)
5. Breakthroughs, Setbacks & Pushing the Ghanaian Agenda in the UK (00:19–01:59; 00:33–00:51)
- As a founder of major UK-based Ghanaian events, Dennis played a pivotal but often underacknowledged role in popularizing African and Ghanaian music & culture abroad.
- He recounted monumental highs and devastating lows, including a loss of nearly £400,000 during a 2023 Ghana party event.
- Industry gatekeeping once demanded English lyrics for radio play, marginalizing African music.
"There was a time that 80% of the lyrics in the music has to be English before we could put on mainstream radio."
— Dennis Tewia (00:38)
- Despite his contributions, Dennis notes his name is missing from popular histories of the UK Afrobeat scene.
"My name has never been in the story. You mess with your DJ branch's name, but not my name."
— Dennis Tewia (00:51)
6. The Birth of "Dirty December" and Diaspora Influence (00:55–02:11)
- Dennis describes how events he pioneered inspired the cultural shift where Ghanaian diaspora eagerly return "home" in December, transforming “coming to Ghana” from a perceived punishment into a sought-after trend.
- He produced landmark shows with legends like Daddy Lumba (01:03–01:16), despite facing hurdles like last-minute artist withdrawals and financial setbacks.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Unrecognized Impact:
"But your name is not in the story because when we speak about even Afrobeat in the UK, your name doesn't come in."
— Derek (00:44)
-
On Challenges with Artists & Refunds:
"The fourth show I was about to do with him... with a day or two to go, he called me to say, he's not coming... Pick up your money."
— Dennis Tewia (01:07)
-
On Making Ghana Cool:
"Coming to Ghana those days was a punishment, but they made it cool to come back to Ghana."
— Derek paraphrasing Dennis (01:39)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Dennis’s Early Family Life – 02:45–05:11
- Sudden Move to UK & Culture Shock – 05:24–07:08
- Football Dreams & Local Achievements – 06:39–07:59
- Parental Expectations/Early Rebellion – 08:09–09:02
- Major Event Loss (£400K) & Industry Realities – 00:19–00:51
- Contribution to Afrobeat/UK Ghanaian Music Scene – 00:33–00:51
- Daddy Lumba Event Drama & Industry Networks – 01:03–01:16
- "Dirty December" Movement Origins – 00:55–02:11
Summary
From a football-loving child in Osu to a transformative cultural force in the UK, Dennis Tewia’s story captures the challenges of diaspora life, overlooked pioneers, the passion behind Ghana’s “Dirty December,” and the grit necessary to navigate big risks, big losses, and generational impact. Dennis’s contributions emerge as vital threads in the fabric of contemporary Ghanaian diasporic identity—turning personal hardship into platforms for collective cultural renaissance.
