In an interview on The Delay Show aired on June 15, 2024, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Ahenfie recounted his fascinating journey and his deep-rooted connections to Manhyia Palace, the official residence of the Asantehene.
Kwame Ahenfie, whose birth name is Isaac Acheampong, was born at the Manhyia Palace. He explained how he earned his unique stage name.
“I’m Kwame Ahenfie because I was born at the Manhyia Palace. I got to a place where there were many people called Kwame, so they decided to differentiate me from them. Ahenfie means Palace, so they added it to my name,” he said.
His birth at the palace was no coincidence. “My father was a policeman who was transferred to Manhyia. My mother was Nana Afia Kobi’s (Asantehemaa’s) cook. So, I’ve been at Manhyia all my life. I was born there, grew up there, and still reside there,” Ahenfie shared.
Living at the Manhyia Palace has not only shaped Ahenfie’s identity but also his career. The little person who is in his thirties, learned to dance at the palace, a skill that has become central to his role. He mentioned that he only dances at funerals to entertain the Ashanti king.
“I don’t dance at funerals unless I’m there to entertain Otumfuo. If a chief dies and Otumfuo attends the funeral, I dance to entertain him after he exchanges pleasantries. That’s my job; I dance to entertain Otumfuo,” he explained.
Ahenfie’s performances are diverse, sometimes featuring the Fontomfrom and other times the Adowa, both traditional Ghanaian dances. His role is integral to the cultural ceremonies and celebrations attended by the Asantehene.
His story is not just about fame but about a lifelong dedication to cultural preservation and the arts.
Meanwhile, Kwame Ahenfie has said he used to be concerned about how different he is. However, after years of receiving advice from some elderly people, he is no longer perturbed about being a little person.
He mentioned that after the age of nineteen, he accepted who he was.
Watch his interview with Delay below.
Source: bbc.com
