Rapper, Sarkodie has bemoaned the lack of support for and appreciation of the works of Ghanaian artistes. Sarkodie stated that although Ghanaian musicians have done incredibly well and have gotten recognitions globally at various points in time, Ghanaians do not highlight their achievements and celebrate them.
This, he said, is stifling the growth of the music industry and making it seem as if Ghanaian artistes are lagging behind their counterparts in Nigeria.
Sarkodie said this while reacting to attacks on artistes in the country after Nigerian artistes won awards at this year’s editions of the Grammys and BET Awards.
“No, I wasn’t disappointed (that Ghanaian artistes didn’t get nominations at the Grammys and BET). A number of Ghanaian artistes have been there and won those awards. But that is something that I think as Ghanaians we let go easily and then we turn to frustrate ourselves for no reason. We need to highlight our moments and hold onto it. If we’ve done incredibly well but we still look out there for what other people are doing. You’ve mentioned a list that is very strong. A lot of countries can’t boast of that,” he told radio personality, Andy Dosty on Accra-based Hitz FM.
Ghanaians particularly on social media trolled top artistes in the country for failing to make it to the Grammys and BET awards following Burna Boy and Wizkid’s wins at the Grammys in March and Burna Boy’s subsequent win at the BET awards in June this year.
The artistes were blamed for failing to project their works and letting their Nigerian counterparts be ahead of them.
But the rapper refuted the claims, stating that Ghanaian artistes have made a mark internationally and in most cases, set the pace for their counterparts in Nigeria and other African countries.
He, however, observed that Ghanaians, instead of highlighting and celebrating their successes, would join Nigerians to celebrate their artistes and thus, letting Nigerians claim ownership of artistic works which originated from Ghana.
“Those comments about us lagging behind are not true. We are actually doing well. There are a lot of things that we did it first. Even shooting good music videos, it was us. We just don’t hold onto our history. They didn’t have visuals more than us. Nigerians are protecting what they have. They don’t allow others to go in. I had to work a 100 times harder to get recognition in Nigerian. But even that, I’m not getting the airplay and talk like their artistes. They admire and respect your work but they can never put you above their artistes. But it is the other way round in Ghana here,” he stated.
Sarkodie recounted “I remember when BET was posting Burna Boy selling their polo, they said ‘the first Afro beats Artiste (to ever do) because we don’t hold onto our successes. If not, I did it before him. There are lot of things that we have done before others but we we’ve left them for others to claim ownership”.
He wants Ghanaians to learn from Nigerians and celebrate the works of their artistes rather celebrating that of artistes from other countries.
