Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
Veteran Ghanaian Highlife artist Amandzeba Nat Brew has expressed his thoughts on the challenges faced by Ghanaian music in breaking through international boundaries.
During an interview with Hitz FM on September 3, 2024, Amandzeba recalled a period when Ghanaian artists were popular in Nigeria and certain regions of Central Africa.
He observed that the dynamic has changed as Ghanaian artists are now attempting to imitate Nigerian trends instead of embracing their distinct Ghanaian heritage.
“About three or four decades ago, eastern Nigeria was full of Ghanaian musicians. So you ask yourself, how were they able to make inroads across West Africa? And it even goes all the way up to Central Africa. And so I’m asking myself if Joe Mensah was so huge in Nigeria.
“Why is the situation now the reverse? The reason is that we are trying to sing like the Nigerians. The Nigerians accepted us because we came as Ghanaians. Now it’s the opposite,” he said.
He pointed to Magic System’s popular song “Amoulanga” as proof that music can cross cultural boundaries based on its simplicity and relatability, rather than its lyrical content.
“Language is not a barrier. Take for example. Magic System did a song called Amoulanga. What’s the meaning of Amoulanga? We don’t know the meaning of Amoulanga and all of us were digging into it. Where is the barrier here?
“You don’t need to look out for some kind of sophisticated arrangement or something. The simplicity of the rhythm or the lyrics can. If it is catchy, you can’t stop it,” he said.
NKONKONSA.com
