Highlife legend Gyedu Blay Ambolley has described Ghanaian creatives especially musicians as pacesetters who have no business at all sounding like Nigerians as they ply their trade.
He believes young Ghanaian musicians in recent times are sounding too much like Nigerians it is even difficult to tell the difference and they are gradually losing their identity.
In the last few weeks, some Ghanaian artistes have been riding a wave of success with their songs trending not only in Ghana but in Nigeria and other countries on the continent.
The artistes include Camidoh and Kelvyn Boy whose songs, Sugarcane and Down Flat respectively are not only bringing them recognition but have put the spotlight on the country.
Raising his concerns to Graphic Showbiz Ambolley said some of the new crop of musicians sound so much like Nigerians and that does not bode well for our industry.
“We don’t have to sound like the Nigerians to be heard. We are the pacesetters; the Nigerians came to Ghana to learn from us so why do we rather copy from them now.
“Even with movies they used to come to NAFTI to learn from us, so how come we are now copying them? We need to sit up. When he was alive, Nigeria’s Fela Kuti kept saying if one wanted to learn good music, one must come to Ghana.
“The young musicians are too used to computer sound and it is about time some of us sat them down and taught them the right way,” he said.
Ambolley suggested that seminars and fora must be organised to teach young artistes about authentic Highlife music.
“Other great musicians and I can join hands to help these young ones. Enough of the Dancehall and Afrobreats. If it’s working for the Nigerians, it does not mean we should copy from them. We have our own identity and that is what we should build on,” he stated.
Source: Graphic online