Kokui Selormey; Keeps enchanting viewers
Besides having a pretty face that enchants viewers on Viasat 1 This Morning television programme, Kokui Selormey is also an avid singer whose melodious voice always holds her audience spellbound.
Advertisement
The 34-year-old diva who had initial ambitions of becoming a lawyer rather chose to study music.
“Anytime that I sing classical music, people are amazed. Music is what I love to do. It is part of me,” as she told The Mirror in a chat recently.
She also auditioned for the X-factor singing reality television show and had sailed through to the next stage.
Kokui said one of the highlights in her music career was to record an album on Christmas with Hugh Masekela, the renowned South African musician of international repute. “We put together a number of Christmas songs which was produced by Mr James Atu Scot Benin with support from the Ridge Church,” she said.
Even though Kokui loves music, at a point, she had to switch to television programming. But before then, she had researched into the entertainment industry in Ghana and had realised that there was enormous opportunity in that sector.
Not long after, Kokui applied to be a presenter on a new television programme called Healthline that was sponsored by Vodafone Ghana and got the position. She said her husband, who was then working with Vodafone, encouraged her to go for the audition. She was the host for the season one episode of the programme and later did the voice over for season two and three.
“I enjoy the fact that every day brings a new challenge and a fresh opportunity for me to make a positive impact on our society through the flagship programme of This Morning. Viasat 1 continues to evolve as one of Ghana’s leading TV stations and I’m proud to be part of a dynamic production that raises the standard for the morning show genre in Ghana”, the pretty TV host said.
Early life
Kokui was born on November 4, 1978 in Accra Ghana, but left with her mother and elder brother when she was six months old to join their dad in the United Kingdom.
She returned 10 years later to continue her education in Ghana, which she said she found quite difficult to adjust. She was enrolled at the Ridge Church School in Accra and later at the Holy Child Senior High School in Cape Coast where she joined the school’s choir in her first year.
“I was enrolled at Ridge Church School in Accra and I quickly adapted to life as a Ghanaian girl. I was always a good student and I made friends quickly but I had to work extra hard to prove that the shy Ghanaian girl with the British accent could hold her own”, she said.
Later, Kokui moved to the United States to pursue a degree in Music and Theatre at the Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and moved to New England Conservatory of Music [NEC] in Boston, Massachusetts.
She did some additional studies at the Allen Academy in Texas prior to applying to university. While at Allen, she said she joined the school choir to fulfil her extra-curricular activities requirement. On completion of her education, she decided to come back home.
She returned to Ghana in 2009 to settle down and worked in the Civil Service of Ghana but had to leave after six months.
Work life
Sometime later, she had a job opportunity at City FM to host the Breakfast Show. Still in search of further opportunities, she moved to Viasat 1 as the host of This Morning, to partner with Patrice Amegashie.
As a mother, wife and a career woman, Kokui said it had not been easy as she had to wake up early every morning to prepare for work.
She said she comes home tired but still had to take care of her family.
“It has not been easy but I am surrounded by wonderful people who help me out”, she said.
According to Kokui, she is sometimes hard-pressed for space and time such that she has to take her five-month old baby to work when her mother, husband or mother-in-law are not available.
The television host cum songstress said what drove her on was the support of her family including her husband and children.
She said, “ I want to do everything to make my family happy and comfortable. Taking care of the children and making sure they do not have to suffer. Giving them good education and providing them with educational tools”.
Marital/leisure life
According to her, her husband, Kobby Hanson is a loving man and an absolute good father to their children. “He supports and encourages me in everything I do. He is also a fantastic cook and loves being a father”, she said.
They are blessed with two boys. They were friends back in high school and reconnected after 10 years of losing contact. He attended Saint Augustines Senior High School and moved to Britain thereafter.
In her leisure time, Kokui loves to read and write or go to the movies with her husband. She also loves to spend much time with her children despite her busy schedule.
“My journey continues now and I’m grateful for the opportunities and training I’ve had in this field. I’m mostly grateful to God for His gift to me and to my parents for their love and for always supporting me even when they had their doubts about me pursuing music as a career”, she said.
She believes God does not give more than one can handle. She advised that as humans, we ought to do our best in life. She said she believed in asking for help when the need arose.
“If you have to leave a mark, leave a good one so that when you are no more, you will be remembered for your good works,” she said.
By Naa Oyoe Quartey/The Mirror/Ghana
