Kiki Gyan: Ghana's Forgotten Keyboard Prodigy

A feature documentary titled "Too Much Music" is set to explore the complex life of Kiki Gyan, a Ghanaian keyboard prodigy. Gyan gained international recognition as a teenager with the Afro-rock band Osibisa, later pursuing a solo career that significantly shaped African disco and funk across London, Lagos, and New York.

Directed by Aseye Fiagbe, the film highlights how the system that profited from Gyan's talent ultimately became indifferent to his struggles. His life story has often been reduced to a singular narrative of addiction, overshadowing his significant musical achievements. The documentary plans to use archival material and testimonies to reconstruct his journey.

Fiagbe, who presented the project at Open Doors, a Locarno Film Festival program, aims to hold Gyan's brilliance and struggles in the same frame. The film questions societal tendencies to reduce individuals to single narratives or mistakes, extending its relevance beyond Ghanaian music history to universal themes of credit, vulnerability, and legacy.

The project received an Open Doors Grant, supporting ongoing research and development. Fiagbe is actively seeking international co-production partners to help complete the film, focusing on meticulously documenting this important aspect of cultural history.