“…Art is not for lazy people” - Panji Anoff

Veteran music producer and cultural thinker, Panji Anoff, has reflected on originality, collaboration and the long road to artistic success, using his work with artistes such as King Ayisoba, Wanlov the Kubolor, Yaa Pono and Black Sherif to illustrate why true creativity cannot be rushed or imitated.

Speaking on Culture Daily, Panji described King Ayisoba as a turning point in his career, noting that the artiste’s unwavering commitment to authenticity helped clarify his own creative direction.

“Before King Ayisoba, I experimented a lot,” Panji explained. “But he was the first artiste who was completely sure about being himself. That project helped people understand what I was really trying to do.”

He stressed that his musical interests have never been limited to one genre, saying his guiding principle has always been emotional connection rather than commercial trends.

“I love all kinds of music. If it makes me feel something, it can make someone else feel something,” he said.

Panji traced a creative lineage that connects Wanlov, Yaa Pono and eventually Black Sherif, crediting artiste-to-artiste recognition as a powerful but rare force in the industry.

According to him, Yaa Pono first introduced Black Sherif long before mainstream success, at a time when the young artiste had just moved to Accra and was still developing his sound.

“What stood out was that he wasn’t copying Wizkid or Davido,” Panji noted. “He was looking at what inspired them and finding his own equivalent.”

Panji compared Black Sherif’s artistic instinct to that of Ghanaian music legends, stressing the importance of drawing from historical greatness rather than chasing current trends.

“We stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “You don’t challenge them in height, you build on what they’ve already created.”

Beyond music, Panji used business and trade examples to highlight Ghana’s struggle with collective thinking. He argued that excessive competition, rather than unity, has limited growth across creative and commercial sectors.

“When people pool resources and trust each other, they gain power,” he said. “In Ghana, too often, we fight instead of collaborating.”

He applied the same thinking to the creative industry, encouraging artistes to see collaboration as a strength rather than a weakness.

Addressing concerns about the dominance of Afrobeat and the repetition of themes in modern music, Panji expressed optimism rather than fear. He described music trends as cyclical, comparing them to ocean tides that constantly bring new material to shore.

“Every trend rises, peaks and falls,” he said. “Humanity is self-correcting. Something new always emerges.”

Panji was emphatic about the realities of creative careers, warning young people against viewing art as an easy alternative to conventional professions.

“Art takes at least ten years,” he said. “If you want shortcuts, go and do medicine, law or engineering. Art is not for lazy people.”

He described artistic work as mentally demanding and constant, noting that unlike other professions, creative thinking never truly switches off.

“Art is powerful,” he added. “But to access that power, you have to work harder than most people are willing to.”

Panji also announced the upcoming Blend Festival, scheduled for February 14 at the Polo Club Gardens, positioning it as a celebration of live music, bands and performance-driven artistry.

The event will feature performances from Wiyaala, M.anifest and the Blend Band, among others, with gates opening at 6:30pm.