In an industry where image often overshadows authenticity, Wanlov the Kubolor remains a compelling contradiction. Known for his barefoot walks, outspoken views, and genre-blending music, the Ghanaian-Romanian artist has never tried to fit into anyone’s mold.
During a recent interview on Joy Prime, Wanlov shared his life story with striking honesty, revealing how experiences at elite Ghanaian schools—and a brief stint in an American prison—shaped his worldview and creative journey.
“When I went to prison in America, I felt like I was in a hotel,” he said.
That surprising statement followed a deeper, grittier comparison between life behind bars in the U.S. and his boarding school days at Adisadel College.
“There was a time we would eat jollof with expired turkey. The next day, everyone had running stomach,” he recalled. “Sometimes you’d find teeth or a wall gecko in your beans. So when I got to prison in America and they gave me cornflakes and milk, I felt like I was in a hotel.”
From Privilege to Protest
Born to a Romanian mother and Ghanaian father, Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu—the man behind the Kubolor moniker—appeared destined for a life of comfort. He attended top-tier schools both locally and abroad. But for him, privilege didn’t bring peace.
“I became angry,” he confessed. “My father never beat me, but school made me want to punish others. It made me start becoming wicked.”
The rigid discipline and harsh social dynamics of boarding school left a mark. But instead of burying the trauma, Wanlov used it to fuel a personal rebellion against convention—rejecting systems like religion, rigid family structures, and colonial-influenced education.
This is how his dual persona was born: OneLove, the idealist, and Kubolor, the anti-colonial rebel.
“People say my name contradicts itself,” he explained. “But to me, it makes perfect sense. ‘Kubolor’ runs from systems that separate us—school, church, strict homes. ‘OneLove’ is what I hope for—unity.”
Music on His Own Terms
Wanlov’s music is unmistakably his: bold, experimental, sometimes absurd, often insightful. While many artists mold their sound to chase trends or radio play, Wanlov stayed the course—true to his unique voice, no matter the cost.
“I do what excites me. What’s smart. What feels right to me,” he said. “I’ve never followed the crowd.”
It hasn’t been easy. For years, he remained on the fringes of the mainstream. Industry gatekeepers didn’t know where to place him. But that’s finally changing. Today, he’s producing new artists, collaborating with influential names, and seeing a financial return that funds his bigger vision.
Still, for Wanlov, success isn’t just about money or metrics.
Beyond the Music: The Kubolor Foundation
For years, Wanlov has quietly invested his time and influence into community and social work. But now, he’s making it official with the launch of The Kubolor Foundation.
“I’ve been doing the work for a long time. But now I’m giving it a name—making it legal,” he said.
Though the foundation is still in its early stages, it reflects Wanlov’s larger mission: to merge creativity with impact. Whether it’s mentoring youth, supporting environmental causes, or using his platform to challenge injustice, his activism comes from lived experience, not theory.
A Man of Contradictions—or Just Clarity?
The Joy Prime interview had its surreal moments—Wanlov casually discussing a recent blood test (“I don’t have AIDS, that’s good news”) and admitting he rode barefoot to the studio on a motorbike. But beyond the quirks and wit is a man with an unshakable sense of purpose.
He challenges systems that most accept without question. He embraces a life of personal freedom. And he encourages others to find their own path—even if it doesn’t look “normal.”
“I found my own kind of freedom,” he said. “And everyone’s path to that freedom is different.”
When asked whether he considers himself a role model, his answer was clear:
“Only if it helps you find your own freedom too.”
Closing Thoughts
Wanlov the Kubolor isn’t trying to be anyone’s hero—or villain. He’s simply himself: uncensored, unconventional, and unafraid.
His journey from elite boarding school to American jail, and now to community activism, is not a fall from grace—it’s a refusal to conform. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless truth-telling.
In a world that rewards imitation, Wanlov stands out by being unapologetically real. He reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is live on your own terms—even if it means walking barefoot.
Watch the full interview in the video below.
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