Renowned media personality and Master of Ceremonies, Kpekpo Maxwell Justice, widely known as KMJ, has revealed that hosting Sarkodie’s album tour in Koforidua was the moment he truly believed in his potential as an MC.
According to him, although he had always been good at entertaining people and hosting small events as a media personality, he never seriously considered emceeing as a professional path until that pivotal experience.
“I discovered that part of myself when I was in Koforidua. I realised I could connect with people uniquely. I love making people happy, and that side of me has always been there. However, one show I did was Sarkodie’s album tour in Koforidua. It was held at the stadium, and I hosted it. After the show, I felt within me that I could take this seriously. I told myself, ‘I can do this.’”
KMJ
What began as a small realisation in Koforidua has since evolved into a thriving career. “I’ve lost count of the events I’ve emceed. I’ve profiled events here in Ghana and in the US,” he stated.
For the media personality, it’s not about the number of events he hosts each year but the lasting impression he leaves on his audience. He believes in delivering performances that people can remember long after the event is over.
He also emphasized that not every media personality is automatically suited to emceeing.
“If you’re a radio or TV presenter, you’re often confined to a studio with a limited technical audience. But when you’re standing in front of 100, 1,000, or even 40 people watching you live, that’s an entirely different experience.
“The fact that you can speak into a microphone on the radio or TV doesn’t mean you can be an MC. It takes understanding the craft, but it’s something that can be developed with time.”
KMJ
KMJ Reveals Sleeping At Taxi Ranks
The media personality and entrepreneur opened up about the difficult journey he endured while chasing his dreams in the media industry.
KMJ shared the tough realities he faced at the start of his career, one of which included sleeping at taxi ranks due to financial constraints. “When I came to Accra, I decided that I was going to do my own thing. So I started following radio presenters,” he revealed.
He explained that one of the ways he got involved was by helping radio presenters carry their CDs to events.
“I used to carry their CDs on my head and follow them everywhere they went. At the time, DJ Willie was hosting Drive Time on Top Radio. I was like a CD boy and also acted as a producer. I would carry his bag, go to the studio with him, help set up, and then we’d move from one pub to another because he had gigs almost every night.”
KMJ
He mentioned that his routine was exhausting. He often left home around noon and didn’t return until the early hours of the next day. “From there, we’d head to Top Radio, work from 3 pm to 7 pm, and after that, I would follow him to the various events he had lined up. I usually went to bed at 4 am,” he recounted.
One of the most difficult parts of that period, he disclosed, was not having enough money to get home after the gigs.
“I’ve slept at taxi ranks before. After we were done with the events, I often didn’t have money to go home. DJ Willie would leave his bag with me, and I’d help load the speakers into a car. The car would drop off the equipment, but I always held onto the CD bag because it meant everything to me. If it got lost, I’d be in serious trouble.
“At the time, I was living at Banana Inn, and finishing around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. made it dangerous to walk home. Since I couldn’t afford a taxi either, I chose to sleep at the taxi ranks and wait until 6 a.m., then walk home. This became a daily routine.”
KMJ
KMJ said he could have asked DJ Willie for help, but chose not to, fearing he’d be seen as a burden and possibly lose the opportunity to learn.
Despite the hardships, the media personality remained determined. He said his vision was to become like DJ Willie or even better. “I was determined to learn and grow. So I kept pushing,” he highlighted.
That persistence eventually paid off. KMJ’s hard work, humility, and relentless drive landed him his first job as a radio host, marking the beginning of a successful career in media.
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