DJ Slim and Culture Squad Panel Call Out Ghana’s Culture of Silence and Favouritism

The latest episode of The Big Conversation delivered another hard-hitting debate as panellists took turns calling out Ghana’s creative industry for its lack of support, visibility and unity especially when it comes to celebrating its own achievers.

Picking up from their earlier discussion on Ghana’s Grammy struggles, the conversation shifted sharply to how Ghanaian media and influencers amplify certain artistes and ignore others. Host C Real, alongside DJ Slim, Lenny and Jason, dissected how bias, sensationalism and selfishness continue to cripple the creative ecosystem.

“We in the media are often selfish,” C Real stated bluntly. “When Slim wins something, everyone wants to comment just to show we’re cool but how many will actually post it on their platform? If it were Stonebwoy or Shatta Wale, by now everyone would have posted old pictures with them claiming they ‘go way back.’”

The C Real read out examples of top Ghanaian personalities from Kofi Mole to Juliet Ibrahim and even Stonebwoy who liked or commented on Juls’ Grammy post but didn’t use their platforms to amplify the win.

“If Ameyaw Debrah and Juliet Ibrahim alone decided to trend Juls’ win, it would be all over the news,” C Real emphasised. “But we’d rather just like and scroll.”

DJ Slim added that favouritism is inevitable but dangerous when it shapes media coverage.

“People have favourites that’s fine. if you no loud your own thing, people never go loud am give you. The Nigerians do this better. Every small win gets amplified across the board.”

The team agreed that visibility must be intentional, both from the artistes and the media. DJ Slim explained that while some platforms are committed to highlighting local wins, others chase only click-driven, sensational stories.

Slim, Lenny and Jason further discussed how Ghana’s lack of identity and vision has affected its international recognition. They argued that while genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano have been exported successfully, Ghana’s own Highlife and Hiplife have lost their intentional push.

“We lack vision,” Slim declared. “Michael Jackson forced the Grammys to recognise pop. Bob Marley forced them to recognise reggae. South Africans pushed Amapiano until the world listened. What are we pushing? Highlife is ours, but even our biggest stars call themselves Afrobeats artistes.”

The conversation also turned toward industry hypocrisy, with the host calling out how platforms prioritise sex appeal and controversy over artistry.

“If Wendy Shay releases a song, the media focuses on her body instead of her work. Then we say artistes like Kiki Celine don’t get bookings but that’s because she’s not doing what they want. We reward sensationalism, not talent.”

In closing, the Big Conversation team called on both artistes and media houses to be intentional about amplifying Ghanaian achievements.

“Our producers like Juls, GuiltyBeatz, Beat Menace, they’re flying the flag quietly and globally,” one Culture Squad said. “They don’t trend, but they’re the reason Ghana is still in the global conversation. We owe them their flowers.”

Slim ended by reminding the audience that missing a Grammy nomination isn’t a failure it’s a reflection of how much work remains to strengthen Ghana’s creative system.

“Artistes shouldn’t be disappointed,” he said. “It’s not a loss. It’s a sign that we must regroup, rethink and push our agenda with structure, investment and unity.”