Finding the sound to counteract the global rise of afrobeats and other music genres on the global market scene has purposefully prompted important industrial talks and debates among musicians, gatekeepers, music lovers, and other stakeholders.
Emmanuel Kweku Owusu Darlington, better known by his stage as Kweku Darlington, has added his voice to the ongoing debate, claiming that the success of Ghanaian music in the market is dependent on hiplife.
In a Facebook post, the “Sika Aba Fie” hitmaker wrote, “We’ve been seeking answers to Ghana’s success in the market!!! ‼️HIPLIFE IS THE SOUND “This post comes off just months after the GRAMMY’s recent grouping of some of Africa’s genres into a broader category named the Best African Music Performance.
With the mother genre, hiplife excluded from the list and a new tag of “Ghanaian drill” added to the list, Kweku Darlington believes hiplife has proven to be the catalyst for Ghanaian music dominance and success.
Kweku Darlington’s recent comments might have caught some by surprise, but a closer examination of his musical catalog reveals a consistent dedication to projecting hiplife music in various ways since his breakthrough.
From notable tracks like “Onipa” featuring Okyeame Kwame, “Sika Aba Fie Remix,” “Aketesia,” and several others, Kweku Darlington has crafted a template that appreciates and showcases the authentic Ghanaian hiplife sound. This commitment to the genre is something he attributes to being instrumental in his widespread growth within the music industry.
For those interested, Kweku Darlington’s latest single titled “Happy Day” can be found at the following link: https://youtu.be/SOUpiAolmbY