Renowned Ghanaian music producer Kaywa has shared new details about the controversy surrounding the 2017 hit song Jennifer Lomotey.
The song’s success was nearly overshadowed by backlash over a tribal reference in Sarkodie’s verse. While many assumed it was just a lyrical blunder, Kaywa revealed it was far more serious.
Speaking in an interview on Hitz FM, the producer recounted that the track was originally titled Crazy Baby, but was renamed after Sarkodie freestyled the now-famous “Jennifer Lomotey” line.
The verse sparked outrage among the Krobo community, with a youth group, Kloma Hengme, threatening legal action against Sarkodie, Kaywa, and singer Kurl Songx.
“They actually sent us a notice through their lawyers,” Kaywa confirmed, explaining that the group demanded an apology, a re-edit of the song, a media ban on airplay, and GH₵2 million compensation to the Krobo people.
According to Kaywa, neither he nor Sarkodie anticipated that the line would cause offense—they believed it was just a vibe.
However, the controversy escalated, prompting a series of meetings with chiefs, legal representatives, and other concerned parties.
The conclusion was that the song had to be pulled down—a task nearly impossible at the time, as it had already saturated the airwaves and was blasting from speakers across the country.
Faced with mounting pressure, Kaywa disclosed that they re-recorded a version of the song without the tribal reference, but it was never widely released.
The reason, he explained, was that Sarkodie felt changing the line would distort the original vibe of the track. Instead, they agreed to clarify the intent behind the lyrics during interviews to ease public tension.
To Kaywa, the incident served as a learning moment—highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity and thorough review before releasing music.
Despite the controversy, Jennifer Lomotey remains one of the most talked-about collaborations between Kaywa and Sarkodie.
