Ghanaian artist Sister Derby recently opened up about the challenges she faced while pursuing higher education, particularly how her mother had to borrow money to support her tuition fees.
In an interview with GTV, Derby shared that her uncle played a significant role in encouraging her to continue her education, advising her to pursue a Master’s degree right after completing her Bachelor’s. He believed that continuing her studies while still in a “learning mode” would be beneficial.
“My uncle encouraged me and pushed me to do a Master’s degree. He was like, ‘Don’t let time pass. You just finished your Bachelor’s. You are still in the learning mode. So just continue,'” she shared.
However, the financial burden of this decision fell heavily on her mother, who had to secure a loan of £11,000 to cover the costs of her studies. Despite the strain, Derby followed her uncle’s advice.
Initially, they were hopeful that her European passport would help reduce the tuition fees, but they soon discovered that her time spent outside Europe and the UK in the past few years meant she didn’t qualify for subsidized fees, and thus had to pay the full international rate.
“I followed his advice, even though it was difficult because my mom had to pay my fees. She had to take out a loan of £11,000, which was a lot of money,” she said.
“We thought that, because I had a European passport, the fees would be subsidized. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been living in Europe or the UK for the past three to five years, so I didn’t qualify. I had to pay international fees,” she explained.
Sister Derby, born Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu on August 25, 1984, is a multifaceted Ghanaian-Romanian artist known for her work in music, television, modeling, and academia. She rose to fame with her 2012 hit “Uncle Obama.”
Aside from her entertainment career, she is a vocal advocate for environmental sustainability and LGBTQ+ rights. Sister Derby holds a Bachelor’s degree in Publishing Studies from KNUST and a Master’s in Book/Journal Publishing from the University of the Arts London.
