Popular Ghanaian musician Mr. Oduro, known for his early 2000s hits Abiba and Meeri, recently made an appearance on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami, where he shared his rather eventful life story.It involves music, migration, and medications.
The Abiba crooner revealed that after making waves in the Ghanaian music scene—particularly around 2003—he decided to take a rather unexpected turn: school. “I wanted to study health and motivation,” he said, casually dropping the bombshell that he later completed a PhD in Pharmacy. Because, why not?
After going into what he charmingly called “hibernation,” Mr. Oduro relocated to Ohio, USA, in 2007. But the story doesn’t end with just him swapping microphones for microscopes. “My brother opened a pharmacy and I worked with him. People started calling me ‘Doctor’ in the area,” he explained. That nickname apparently sparked his passion for medicine, which led him to formally study pharmacy.
The transition from Ghana to the U.S. wasn’t exactly the utopia he’d imagined. “What we thought abrokyire (abroad) would be, it’s not like that. The system is completely different,” he noted, adding that he initially worked warehouse jobs before things began to improve. By 2017, he had completed his studies and has now been working in a pharmacy for the past eight years.
But don’t count him out of the music scene just yet. Mr. Oduro made it clear he has no intention of giving up music. In fact, he’s launched a YouTube channel and TikTok presence to not only share his music but also educate others on health, especially about reducing sugar intake and making better dietary choices. Talk about a genre shift.
He also had some practical advice for young people: “If you can, go to school and get your PhD. But even more important—learn a skilled trade. Be a mechanic, a fitter, an electrician. Because if you don’t, you’ll be stuck doing warehouse jobs like I did.”
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Oduro admitted that despite his progress, about 98% of the people he knows abroad still wish they could return to their home countries. But with his blend of talent, tenacity, and a touch of turmeric (for health, obviously), Mr. Oduro is living proof that you can remix your life—and still keep the beat.
Watch The Video Below:
About The Author
