Damian Marley inspired my character on WWE - Kofi Kingston

Ghanaian born newly crowned World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Champion Kofi Kingston has disclosed that the story behind his character in the ring.

Born Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah to Ghanaians parents in Kumasi, the affable and lively wrestler indicated that he adopted the name Kofi Kingston after listening to the album ‘Welcome to the Jamrock’ of Damian Marley, one of two sons of Reggae legend Bob Marley.

In his narration, Kofi Kingston noted that there was already a wrestler playing the character of a Ghanaian and as a result had to distinguish himself. He quickly introduced himself as a Jamaican act with the accent which got an overwhelming reception.

“…when I decided to come out with the Kofi Kingston… there was actually somebody who was already playing the Ghanaian character… so when I came and I wanted to do something that was different and I happen to be listening to Damian Marley’s ‘Welcome to Jamrock’… it inspired me to come up with the character..” he revealed

“… when I went to my wrestling class and I started talking like ‘Kofi Kingston from Kingston, Jamaica everybody was blown away. So that ended up being a way that I could break into this ultracompetitive industry. Inhabit a character that was memorable, able to entertain… Kofi Kingston added.



The WWE Champion was explaining to journalists who had converged at the Multichoice Headquarters in Accra how the wrestlers in the ring adopt characters just for the television and maintained that they were different individuals in reality.

Kofi Kingston is back in his homeland on a 4-day visit as part Ghana’s Year of return and also the wrestler’s tour after being crowned the champion of the sport.