Veteran Ghanaian musician, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, has expressed deep concern about the music industry’s current trend of imitation rather than innovation.
In his recent statement, he emphasised that replicating others in the industry is detrimental to its future growth.
Ambolley pointed out that many contemporary artists are not pushing themselves to introduce fresh and creative ideas.
He contrasted this with Nigerian musicians like Burna Boy, highlighting how they incorporate their cultural identity into their music, making them easily distinguishable on the global stage.
The musician criticised Ghanaian artists who claim titles like ‘Dancehall Kings’ or adopt foreign styles like singing in patois, arguing that such actions divert them from their authentic artistic identities.
He remarked, “There is no future [for Ghanaian music] because we are copying more than being creatives. The young musicians want to go into Dancehall music, singing in patois and others but it originates from Jamaica. Have you heard Burna Boy singing in patois before? No, the way he sings his songs can be recognized as Nigerian, so there is an identity. Someone created the Dancehall genre, and you are claiming you are the ‘Dancehall King of Africa;’ what about the one who came up with the idea?”
Ambolley’s legacy in Ghana’s music scene is significant, with hits like ‘Abrentsie,’ ‘Adwoa,’ and ‘The Simigwa’ solidifying his status as a respected figure in the industry.
Watch video below:
"There is no future for Ghanaian music ; we’re copying more than being creatives" – Ambolley#sms
— THE SOCIAL MEDIA SHOW (@Tsocialshow) April 22, 2024
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