Segment: From Osu Stadium to Akwaaba UK - The Untold Story Behind Ghana's December Revolution

Summary

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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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Transcript

[Dennis Tewia]

There became a time to say to Dad, I really want to be a footballer. He started writing letters to various clubs to give me trials. Arsenal Football Club, because we live closer to Arsenal.

I just called into the office by one Mr. Tom Wally and I just said, you know what we're looking for. Your journey ends here.

[Derek]

2023, you had an event.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Ghana party department. And you made a huge loss, Heavy loss. How much did you lose about it?

[Dennis Tewia]

About 400k pounds, Mercedes, US dollars, pounds. Just like that.

[Derek]

There's a role that you have played in pushing the African music agenda in the UK.

[Dennis Tewia]

There was a time that 80% of the lyrics in the music has to be English before we could put on mainstream radio.

[Derek]

But your name is not in the story because when we speak about even Afrobeat in the uk, your name doesn't come in.

[Dennis Tewia]

My name has never been in the story. You mess with your DJ branch's name,

but not my name.

[Derek]

You genuinely believe that fundament? Your role in December in Ghana has birthed 30 December. What did the likes of legend Daddy Lomba.

[Dennis Tewia]

I've done three shows with Daddy, all in the uk.

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.

Your money's really coming. Pick up your money.

[Derek]

Refund.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah, he gave me the money at that time.

I've already made a heavy loss. I remember even we went as far as calling Asante to intervene. We called Osekwami despite to intervene because people have bought tickets to come to

[Derek]

the show and he never came. Even though you reached out to people, he still didn't come. Any reason. I mean, how do you make the money back? You're welcome to Connected Minds podcast. My name is Derek and my guest today is Mr. Dennis Tewia. He's the founder of Aqaba UK, Miss Ghana UK and the man that helped popularize Ghana music in the UK and created what a lot of us see as Come back to Ghana for the Dirty December. We're going to discuss the part he played in that, his role in shifting the minds of a lot of Ghanaian in the diaspora to come back home. December Times. Interestingly, there was a topic we were speaking about today and he says that coming to Ghana those days was a punishment, but they made it cool to come back to Ghana. How you doing?

[Dennis Tewia]

I'm good, Very good.

[Derek]

Thank you. Thank you for coming. This. This conversation has been. It's been in the pipeline for a long time, Right.

[Dennis Tewia]

For A while.

Yeah.

[Derek]

We've been, you know, talking about it every time you come to Ghana, but we found the time Aquaba uk. Now it is not possible for us to talk about any conversation, personality profile and whatever we choose to do without talking about money. So there'll be an aspect of this conversation where we're going to talk about money. So let's, let's, let's start from a young boy that was born in Osu. Now I want to really get deep into the type of parents you had.

[Dennis Tewia]

First born and grew up in Osu to my father, James Kofi Tavia and my mother Comfort Tavia. My father was a, was a call a barrister law at the time and he was also a former chairman of Accra Folk Football Club. And my mother was as at that time she was working in department stores and doing her own poultry farming and everything else alongside my father. So yeah, that's the main.

[Derek]

So how many siblings all together?

[Dennis Tewia]

We've got 14 siblings.

[Derek]

14.

[Dennis Tewia]

One, four.

[Derek]

Same mom and dad?

[Dennis Tewia]

No, but we, we call ourselves 14 siblings, 14 Thai siblings. So we don't.

[Derek]

You don't separate. So in your household.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Was, was mom and dad living together in your household where.

[Dennis Tewia]

No, mom and dad were not living together.

[Derek]

Right.

[Dennis Tewia]

Dad had his place, mama displays and you know, we, we moved in between.

[Derek]

Okay.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah, but it's all in the suit,

so it wasn't, it was just a walking distance, so it wasn't.

[Derek]

So did you grow up with your father?

[Dennis Tewia]

I didn't see him a lot like I wish to because he was a

busy man as well as having been a bright star law. He had his own other businesses that he was doing. And then at the time I also was going to boarding school as well. So it's only when you come on school holidays that you get a chance to, to see them or when there's an occasion and they want you to join them, then you go and join them. But yeah.

[Derek]

So you spent most of your childhood with mom?

[Dennis Tewia]

Of course, 100.

Yeah.

[Derek]

And how many siblings were living with mom?

[Dennis Tewia]

Four siblings.

[Derek]

So including you?

[Dennis Tewia]

Four.

Correct.

[Derek]

Right. Now mom also had a business that she was doing.

[Dennis Tewia]

She had a business.

She was, I think she was working at the time in gntc. Okay. And then she also had a little poultry farm that she was operating on the side.

[Derek]

Right?

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah.

[Derek]

So, you know, because I've seen the type of relationship you have with your kids. One of them came with you today and it, it like, it's beautiful to see that. So I really wanted to understand the type of relationship you had with your father. Is your dad still around?

[Dennis Tewia]

He's not around. He's passed away. Okay, okay, he's passed away. But I mean, I'll say one thing about.

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.

[Derek]

If dad was doing well in Ghana, why did he see the need to move you to the uk?

[Dennis Tewia]

Political reasons. Okay, so there. Mainly political reasons, but I thank him for doing that because I'm here today telling the story.

[Derek]

So then come the time when small boy. Dennis.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah.

[Derek]

No, Su.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Loved playing football.

[Dennis Tewia]

Love, love football.

[Derek]

And now you have to go to the uk. I mean, you said it's political reasons. That's the reason why you had to go. So it wasn't really by choice. You didn't say, I want to go to the uk.

[Dennis Tewia]

No, I had no choice in traveling. Right. In fact, I didn't know I was going to travel.

[Derek]

That's okay, talk me through that.

[Dennis Tewia]

I was playing football at.

Fun enough at the time and my sister called me to say, come have a bath. We. We're going out. That's all. The next thing I know is I'm

in the United Kingdom.

[Derek]

Okay, so talk me through the first time you landed in the uk.

[Dennis Tewia]

I was scared. I was a bit scared. I didn't know where I was. I had no friends, you know, from the minute I landed at Heathrow Airport, I was very scared. Even experience on traveling on the underground from the.

From Heathrow Chief Station all the way to my destination, Central Park, I was scared. I've never been on escalators before.

Could you imagine that?

[Derek]

How did you think life was going to play out?

[Dennis Tewia]

I was. I was crying most of the time when I was there.

[Derek]

You were crying?

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah, I had a little time that I was crying. I just wanted to come back. I just really wanted to come back. I've left friends behind.

[Derek]

Okay, so friends, what else was the reason why you wanted to come back?

[Dennis Tewia]

I'm young.

I didn't know what I was going into. You know, my brooche, whatever, it wasn't something that was for me. I didn't know much about it, so I was happy where I was.

[Derek]

How old were you at that time?

[Dennis Tewia]

I think I was 12 years old.

[Derek]

Okay.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah, I think I was 12 years old.

[Derek]

That. 12, 13 year old. What did you really wanted to become at the time?

[Dennis Tewia]

I badly wanted to be a footballer,

as I said, because of my dad's connection with football. And living in those two house was not far away from the stadium. So I have my daily travel to the stadium to go and watch football matches all the time. And yeah, I didn't even want to go to school. I really wanted to be a footballer. And I felt I had a chance to be a footballer if I was here in Ghana.

[Derek]

So you felt that if you were in Ghana, you would have had a chance to.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah, because I was at the time, I was playing what you call Koos

football at the time. We had Coles football and then I

was one of the talented kids.

And there was two clubs at the time that were after me, Coles football team that were after me. And I remember, you know, trying to juggle the two. And I thought this something good. And those days, those two football teams were two top teams. One of them was called. One of them was in Tema, it was called Harbor City. They were one of the big youth football team. And then the other one was, I think Pfizer football team.

So I knew that those two teams been after me.

You know, it's like Manchester United, Manchester

City back in the day. I mean, as a young boy, that's

how I looked at it. So I knew that, yeah, I had

a chance as well as playing with

my local friends in OSU as well.

So I was spotted.

And then I thought, yeah, okay, but

[Derek]

what was your mom's education background?

[Dennis Tewia]

I don't know much about mom's education

background, but I know mom was hard working and that's one thing for sure supporting that.

[Derek]

And then dad that, that had a

[Dennis Tewia]

very good education back. He actually stood in the. In the United Kingdom.

[Derek]

Okay. So I suppose his aim was, you know, you go to school and then do something else.

[Dennis Tewia]

Yeah, I mean, that's the aim for

that all his, all his children to go to, to school. And even when he took us to the uk, one of the things he made us do is make sure we all went to. Went to various, various schools. So for that he wanted that, you know, that journey that he's had it giving his children the opportunity to go to schools in the United Kingdom.

[Derek]

But then how did you navigate not exactly doing what daddy wants you to, to become and becoming this version of Mr. Terrier.

[Dennis Tewia]

My dad was a very cool person, very calm person. And he doesn't. His expressions are very less. And one thing I noticed about him, 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.

I'll leave them. I'm going to school. But then, obviously, you get a report that shows that I've not been attending school, because I spend a lot of my time just out of school. You know, Connected Minds podcast.