Ko-Jo Cue, AratheJay, and Ofori Amponsah come together in ‘Tontonte’ from the album ‘KANI: A Bantama Story’. The lyricists Kofi Anim Dankwa and Linford Kennedy Amankwaa tell a story of struggle and reflection, while the composers blend Afrobeats with heartfelt verses. The song takes you into the life of a man grappling with poverty and self-discovery.
Released: September 23, 2025
Tontonte
Arathejay | Ko-Jo Cue • From “KANI: A Bantama Story”
What is the meaning of Tontonte Lyrics from KANI: A Bantama Story?
The lyrics describe the challenges of life with lines like, ‘Alcohol isn’t food, but my worries drive me to it.’ AratheJay uses everyday details, like sharing ‘Gulder’ beer with friends, to highlight themes of camaraderie and survival. The song mixes personal pain with broader social issues, creating a relatable narrative.
Ginseng ase nsuo grawaA large jug of ‘ginseng-infused’ drink,
Me redwene got me thinking louderI’m deep in thought, and it’s got me thinking louder.
Wiase nsemsem na adane me adwenedwene ahhhThe world’s troubles have turned me into a worrier.
Me twa bi a wo se me ye asommorodwe ei kwame eiWhen I take a drink, you call me a ‘drunkard’, oh Kwame.
Back in the days me hu me og biara na w’aboBack in the day, every ‘OG’ I saw was drunk.
Nti me bisa no bra dan aden na daa na w’aye sramSo I asked him, “Brother Dan, why are you always tipsy?”
Ose wo be nyini abe toHe said, “You’ll grow up and find out.”
He went to lagos to get rich hustle hard make e pickHe went to Lagos to get rich, and he hustled hard to make it.
Dem deport am 83 w’anfa hwee agye ne ghana must goThey deported him in ’83, and he brought back nothing but a ‘Ghana Must Go’ checkered bag.
But man be who dey do no be who do someBut the person who does the work isn’t always the one who gains.
Obra nso kakra ni wo ho a it’s too gruesomeIf life doesn’t give you a little something, it’s too gruesome.
To make a move you for move onTo make a move, you’ve got to move on.
Nti ne nsem hye tirimuSo his words are stuck in my mind.
Hwe ogye ne quarter on creditLook, he buys his ‘quarter’ of liquor on credit,
Na one brothers asette gulder nam mu esweateand he sits with the brothers, sharing ‘Gulder’ beer and sweating.
Talking pain and lessons gain and blessingsTalking about pain and lessons, gains and blessings.
The women the children and now i get itThe women, the children—and now I get it.
Ma ye barima ntiBecause I’ve become a man,
Obra no reko m’anilife is hitting me right in the face.
I’m at that age i dey craze but the hennessy’sI’m at the age where I’m going crazy, but the Hennessy is
Cheaper than therapycheaper than therapy.
Nti friday then i link boysSo on Fridays, I link up with the boys.
Kokroko na eema me joy‘Kokroko’ gin is what gives me joy.
Enmaa m’ani so a me nkoo yeEven when I’m tipsy, I haven’t given up yet.
Me wia a m’atippo rejoiceWhen I’m done, I tip my hat and rejoice.
Finding myself in the stories sharedI’m finding myself in the stories we share.
Everybody needs somebody who’s always thereEverybody needs somebody who’s always there.
Eka ba a ye be sorte chefWhen the bill comes, we’ll sort it out, boss.
Afei dee asante akae nakyi wakae nakyi oh eiNow Asante has remembered his past, he’s remembered his past.
Kae nakyi oh eiHe’s remembered his past.
Enso enkaa akyireBut it’s not too late.
Konkontibaa dane aponkyereniiA ‘tadpole’ turns into a ‘frog’.
Na wako baabi a ako baabi oh eiAnd he’s gone somewhere far, far away.
Ko baabi oh eiHe’s gone somewhere.
If he come back ensuo no mu nso a enye me nwanwaIf he returns to the water, it won’t surprise me.
Wiase abrabo yi enye mmirika ohThis life isn’t a race.
Enye mmirika ohIt’s not a race.
Me nim se dabi ebe se saI know that one day, things will change.
Wiase abrabo yi enye mmirika ohThis life isn’t a race.
Enye mmirika ohIt’s not a race.
Me nim se dabi ebe se saI know that one day, things will change.
Asem a preko ka kyere ne ba noThe things a father tells his son,
Afei na ato aso mu afei na mate aseehave finally reached my ears; I finally understand.
Nsem a esii ye a na nka me nfa hooThe things that happened, I didn’t care for them back then.
Afei na mahu ani anoo ne ne nkyereaseeNow I see the patterns and their true meanings.
Youthful exuberance tintirintiYouthful exuberance was at its peak.
Obra go calm you down ma biribi nsiLife will calm you down until something happens.
I’m sorry mama na me nnim ntiI’m sorry, Mama, I just didn’t know.
Alcohol no be food adwendwen ntiAlcohol isn’t food, but my worries drive me to it.
2 whiskey coke koraa nfraTwo whiskeys and a coke aren’t even enough.
The weight i place on my shoulders job koraa nsoaThe weight I place on my shoulders, even a job can’t carry it.
Nyame hyira nnipa kakra bi a na orebe twa wo mpoaWhen God blesses some people a little, they start mocking you.
Ohu wo te se akoaThey look at you like you’re a slave.
Enso ehia enyi muBut even in poverty, there’s dignity.
Ehia se na ehia niPoverty is just what it is.
Ehia nnim nee ohia biPoverty doesn’t care who’s struggling.
Ohia di dee nua ni muPoverty eats away at what’s inside.
Ye mia ani de hua biWe grit our teeth and endure it.
Nnua nim nyame animBefore the trees, before the face of God.
Nee enti a na three hye bitters wo mpa aseThat’s why three bottles of ‘bitters’ herbal liqueur are under the bed.
Salary nto nsaase ye de te nsa aseMy salary doesn’t buy land; we’re just surviving.
Paapa baa ye na wa vex i couldn’t believeWhen Papa came, he was so angry I couldn’t believe it.
Se enti a obaa eye a onnidiThat’s why sometimes a woman won’t even eat.
This life as a test no anko me tiri muI didn’t realize this life was a test.
Plans no ma forme nso ne koraa koraa committeeI made plans, but they’re still stuck in a ‘committee’ level phase.
Na me dwene se me ye fast na mako m’animI thought I was moving fast and getting ahead.
Crash makoma for the side nti mato m’aniI crashed my heart on the side, so I’ve lowered my gaze.
Magye lime ne ginseng magye ice se makae makyiI’ve taken lime, ginseng, and ice as I remember my past.
Osoma me a aso m’aniIf life sends me on an errand, I’m ready to look it in the eye.
Afei dee asante akae nakyi wakae nakyi oh eiNow Asante has remembered his past, he’s remembered his past.
Kae nakyi oh eiHe’s remembered his past.
Enso enkaa akyireBut it’s not too late.
Konkontibaa dane aponkyereniiA ‘tadpole’ turns into a ‘frog’.
Na wako baabi a ako baabi oh eiAnd he’s gone somewhere far, far away.
Ko baabi oh eiHe’s gone somewhere.
If he come back ensuo no mu nso a enye me nwanwaIf he returns to the water, it won’t surprise me.
Me se afei dee me nom ginseng ase nsuo grawaI say now I’m drinking a large jug of ‘ginseng-infused’ water.
Me redwene got me thinking louderI’m deep in thought, and it’s got me thinking louder.
Konkontibaa dane aponkyerenii no oko baabi aThe ‘tadpole’ turned into a ‘frog’ and went somewhere.
Hmmm oko baabi ayeHmm, he’s gone away.
Ohu se woooHe sees that, “Whoa.”
Wiase nsemsem wiase nsem ntiraBecause of the world’s troubles and all the news,
Eye a na ebi se me pe nsa ahhsometimes it looks like I just love alcohol.
Bosome aso efie wura eregye ohhhh booooThe month is over, and the landlord is shouting for rent.
Nkoraa school fees yi aye dendendenThese kids’ school fees have become so expensive.
Aso oh me yere yi nso aAnd even my wife,
Ono na obe ye mawerekyekyereshe’s the one who’s supposed to be my comforter.
Nanso aboa ohia ama odo yi aye nwononwononwonoBut the beast of poverty has made this love bitter.
Ye ko da ode n’ani akyere dan odo eiiiiWhen we go to sleep, she turns her face to the wall, my love.
Me nom nsa mo se asommorodwe eiiiI drink and you call me a ‘drunkard’.
Wiase nsemsem na ama no aba saaThe world’s troubles made it happen this way.
Tontonte Music Video
‘Tontonte’ lyrics offer a raw look at life’s struggles. Ko-Jo Cue and Ofori Amponsah deliver a poignant message in this Ghanaian track, showing how hardship can shape a person’s journey.