Amandzeba Nat Brew, the renowned Ghanaian Highlife musician, recently discussed the challenges faced by Ghanaian music in breaking through international markets.
In an interview with Hitz FM on September 3, 2024, he reflected on a time when Ghanaian musicians were highly influential in Nigeria and Central Africa.
Amandzeba observed that the current trend sees Ghanaian artists mimicking Nigerian styles rather than celebrating their own unique 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 questioned why Ghanaian musicians, who once dominated the music scene in Nigeria, are now struggling to gain similar traction.
He used the example of Magic System’s hit “Amoulanga” to illustrate his point, arguing that music’s global appeal isn’t tied to language.
Instead, it’s about the music’s simplicity and its ability to connect with listeners. He noted that the catchy nature of a song can overcome any language barriers, as seen with “Amoulanga,” whose meaning remains a mystery but still resonates widely.
“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.