After a brief stint on Fame Academy, he was whisked off to Ghana by businessman Rick Wright and was in Accra for two years, acquiring musical knowledge and skill, playing with his dream band and getting the focus and headspace he couldn’t get here at home to write songs.

Tumi tells me, in his Ghanaian-inflected accent, that he got used to the beautiful country, and initially found it hard to come back home. His album was recorded with a band of musicians from Accra, who created the intensity and richness on No Guarantee – a showcase of the best of Tumi’s song writing. He penned 13 of the 15 tracks on an album of the smoothest R&B, some more on the jazz tip, some funk, soul and slow jams. Big names such as Lira, Marcus Wyatt and RJ Benjamin also joined in the recording, which was completely live. The music video Give Me You, which follows the same love-song theme as most of the tracks on the album, reach number two on the Channel O Africa Chart.

There’s a sense that Tumi has had many influences, but he chooses to mention the ones that reflect his current style: Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Babyface and Boyz II Men, whom he was a support act for when they played in Ghana. He says, “Michael Jackson is the thing, but Ma-Brrr was the best”.

Tumi is one clean-living brother; he doesn’t drink, smoke or light up zol. He’s extremely groomed and focused and gets up early every day to read and do voice warm-ups. He says, “We should never give up on what we believe; put it in your heart, dedicate it to God, pray and work hard towards it”.

Tumi stands out in an industry dominated by “big pimpin” posturing and sunglasses-at-night types, He’s real, a dedicated singer, a young African and a world citizen.