The Media Makes Ghanaian Artistes Useless—Abrewanana
Abrewanana has criticized the media for their tendency to portray Ghanaian artistes as incompetent if they don’t consistently release hit songs to maintain their relevance.
The experienced hiplife star pointed out that the media has shown bias by promoting only a select group of artistes as the sole representatives of the country’s entertainment industry.
During an exclusive interview with Graphic Showbiz, the singer emphasized that this practice of highlighting specific artistes has created a divisive atmosphere.
She voiced her apprehension regarding the media’s classification and biased treatment towards ‘A-List’ artists, asserting that it creates an unfair advantage for a select few and hampers the progress of Ghana’s music industry.
According to her, numerous radio and TV stations tend to prioritize a handful of artists, granting them excessive airtime and visibility, thereby restricting the opportunities for a significant number of talented individuals in the country to exhibit their craft and receive acknowledgement.
“The industry needs a united front that would give prospects to a broader range of talents instead of focusing on a select few.
“Also, the media makes it look like Ghanaian artistes are not doing well because in their own mind, they have listed some types of artistes who they have put on the frontline for the world to see. That is the reason why our counterparts elsewhere seem to be ahead of us. They don’t push only one person to shine, they offer a lot of people equal opportunities to blossom and that is what we also have to do here,” she explained.
Abrewa Nana urged industry leaders, record labels, and policymakers to put measures in place to break down the barriers that hindered the progress of musicians, particularly up-and-coming ones.
“I believe in a music industry that provides equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or origin. It’s time for us to come together and create a space where talent can flourish, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status,” she stated.
Abrewa Nana has expressed her support for the #PlayGhana agenda, an initiative by the Creative Arts Agency that aims to promote Ghanaian music both within the country and on the international stage. She emphasized the need for continuous efforts and effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure the growth and impact of this initiative.
“If we don’t concentrate on the #PlayGhana agenda, when foreign visitors come here, especially during Christmas, and all they hear is foreign music, that will be the message they will take back home with them. I am sure when we are keen on playing about 80 per cent Ghanaian music, the impact will be felt across the globe”, she added.
