Let’s Be Strategic And Deliberate In Pushing Ghana Music- Samini, Black Sherif, Reggie Rockstone Speak At #PlayGhana Initiative
Ghanaian artistes including Samini, Black Sherif, Reggie Rockstone, and Smallgod were in attendance at the #PlayGhana initiative organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in collaboration with the Creative Arts Agency.
During the event, they passionately discussed the theme of the day. The purpose of the initiative was to promote Ghanaian music throughout the country in preparation for the festive season known as ‘Detty December,’ when many diasporans visit the country for their holidays, to add aura to entertainment in Ghana
Each musician took the opportunity to express their views on making Ghanaian music the focal point of Ghana’s entertainment industry, following years of Nigerian music dominating the scene.
Samini emphasized the importance of giving Ghanaian music the recognition it deserves, highlighting how the constant preference for foreign music over local songs has negatively impacted the industry’s growth.
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Samini additionally expressed that the presence of Ghanaian music on streaming platforms is inadequate. He clarified that the constant exposure to foreign music has diverted the public’s attention away from their own country’s artists.
“We’ve always been advocating the fact that we need to hear more of our music when we are in our own territory. Because that’s what we see when we go to other territories. If you go to Kenya, for instance, you hear strictly East African music. Yes, of course, we have the Nigerian invasion, which is inevitable, which is not the competition here,” Samini said.
“That’s not the complaint here. That’s not the target here. What we’re talking about is that, especially for the fact that we have beyond the return, which has become like an asset to Ghana, should anybody travel here and listen to 70% foreign music and 30% Ghanaian music, then what music have we sold to those who returned. It has to be a deliberate approach. It has to be strategic and deliberate, without malice to any other force or any other group. Let’s make sure ours is ours, and let’s make it appealing to the masses,” he added.
Black Sherif, upon his turn, expressed his intention to refrain from excessive talking and placing blame on others for Ghana’s current predicament. Instead, he emphasized the importance of a unified effort to propel Ghanaian music forward.
“You know, this is not a blame game. We are not blaming DJs. We are not blaming artists. We are not blaming consumers. It’s a step in the right direction for us all, our music, and our culture. So play Ghana. Blessings.”
#PlayGhana Initiative
The #PlayGhana initiative was officially launched on Thursday by the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry in partnership with the Creative Arts Agency and key players in the music industry.
During the press briefing, Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, the Director of the Creative Arts Agency, highlighted the significance of the Christmas season for the creative community in Ghana. She emphasized that while Ghanaian culture, encompassing fashion, arts, and food, is celebrated globally by diasporans, the same level of recognition is not always extended to Ghanaian music.
“Today marks the day that we are pledging to push Ghanaian music to the forefront of our audiences, starting at home. The Creative Arts Agency will collaborate with stakeholders and players in the music industry, film, and broadcasting to review our local content regulations,” she noted.
Miss Akufo-Addo added that “both the Cultural Policy and the Broadcasting Bill must be amended and enforced. Our Nigerian cousins have implemented 70% local content law; within music, film, and broadcasting, Ghana must do the same.”
