Highlife artist Bisa Kdei recently took a stand against Ghanaian promoters, criticizing their tendency to underestimate the potential of Ghanaian music on the global stage.
During an interview on Accra FM on March 28, 2024, Bisa Kdei voiced his frustration with promoters who disregard the possibility of Ghanaian artists selling out international venues like the O2 Arena without even giving it a shot.
“Some promoters are to blame; they talk down on Ghanaian music a lot, and they say things like, ‘a Ghanaian can’t sell out an international stage like the O2 Arena,’. Have we even tried? Even if a Ghanaian organises a show and only 2 people come, at least they tried.
“But we don’t even try, yet we downplay Ghanaian music. If people are listening, and they hear a promoter saying that a Ghanaian can’t sell out international arenas, they won’t even bother to come to the event,” he said.
Bisa Kdei, real name Ronald Kweku Dei Appiah, called for positivity among Ghanaians and said “Some people say Ghanaian songs are not good enough, that is very stupid. Nobody should say that. There is a reason why many people from other countries come to take inspiration from Ghana. There is power here. So let’s say positive things; let’s bring blessings to our industry,” he said.
He called upon promoters to have faith in Ghanaian music, stressing that attempting and falling short is preferable to not attempting at all.
Bisa Kdei pointed out the detrimental effects of promoters’ pessimism, observing that it dissuades both artists and audiences from supporting Ghanaian music events.
The artist, known offstage as Ronald Kweku Dei Appiah, advocated for a shift towards optimism within the Ghanaian music industry.
He urged individuals to refrain from disparaging Ghanaian songs, highlighting their cultural significance and the inspiration they offer to artists worldwide.
Bisa Kdei underscored the importance of unified support and encouragement to propel Ghanaian music to international recognition.