Amaarae Explains Absence of More Ghanaian Features on BLACK STAR Album

Ghanaian-American singer and global alté star Amaarae has addressed questions surrounding the limited number of Ghanaian artistes featured on her critically acclaimed debut album, BLACK STAR.

Speaking on the Sincerely Accra podcast hosted by Joseph Nti, Amaarae revealed that she had initially hoped to collaborate with more Ghanaian musicians on the project, but those plans did not materialise.

“I tried getting AratheJay, Shatta Wale and NshornaMuzik on my BLACK STAR album, but it didn’t work out,” she said.

According to Amaarae, the absence of these collaborations was not due to a lack of interest or support for Ghanaian music, but rather timing, logistics and creative alignment issues that sometimes arise during the album-making process.

She emphasised that BLACK STAR was always intended to be a deeply personal project that still reflected her Ghanaian roots, even without an extensive list of local features. The album, which blends alté, pop, R&B and Afrobeats influences, went on to receive international praise for its bold sound and cultural identity.

Amaarae also noted that her relationship with the Ghanaian music scene remains strong, and collaborations with local artistes are still very much part of her future plans.

BLACK STAR marked a major milestone in Amaarae’s career, positioning her as one of Africa’s most innovative voices on the global music stage. Despite ongoing debates around representation and collaboration, her recent comments offer clarity on the realities behind the creative process.