Legendary Ghanaian Highlife musician
Kwabena Kwabena has called for the need to project our sense of identity in
relation to the Highlife music genre within Ghana’s music space, devoid of
external validation. In a conversation with the Culture Squad on 3Music TV’s Big
Conversation, he revealed that most artistes especially within the Ghanaian
music space have lost their self identity, focusing on what is popular
than pushing their own originality while making reference to efforts by some
Nigerian artistes who have continued to push the ever-growing Afrobeat genre
until its global recognition and acceptance.
According to him, it is necessary for Ghana
to focus less on belonging and be driven toward being heard. He added that the
time had come for the establishment of a music academy within the Ghanaian
industry, comprising music geniuses – legends from an earlier period as well as
the current generation capable of identifying and establishing the structure of
our music as it is only then that we will, as a people, be able to have a sense
of self.
He pointed out the role of the media in
giving artistes a sense of direction in their creative process with the kind of
art they project with their platforms, advising that artistes be careful not to
be swayed by what is popular but focus on originality in order not to lose
themselves in forms of art they do not identify with. He also charged the media
and other stakeholders to be intentional in amplifying and upholding their
responsibility of defining the identity of Ghanaian music genres enough to be
recognized, accepted and projected both locally and internationally.
Additionally, he addressed another section
of industry stakeholders - the Ghanaian public - to do better with regard
to channeling energies toward constructive criticism as it contributes to
either motivating or demoralizing artistes. He concluded by highlighting the
importance of investing in a single agenda of safeguarding and projecting the
Ghanaian identity. He also hinted on a yet-to-be released feature with Nigerian
highlife musicians, The Cavemen.
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