Ghanaian music can't transcend borders because we are trying to sound like Nigerians - Amandzeba

Veteran Ghanaian Highlife musician Amandzeba Nat Brew has shared his insights on the difficulty of Ghanaian music to transcend borders.

Speaking in an interview with Hitz FM on September 3, 2024, Amandzeba recounted a time, when Ghanaian musicians were prominent in Nigeria and some parts of Central Africa.

He noted that the situation has reversed because Ghanaian artistes are now trying to emulate Nigerian styles rather than embracing their unique Ghanaian identity.

“About three or four decades ago, eastern Nigeria was full of Ghanaian musicians. So you ask yourself, how were they able to make inroads across West Africa? And it even goes all the way up to Central Africa. And so I'm asking myself if Joe Mensah was so huge in Nigeria.

“Why is the situation now the reverse? The reason is that we are trying to sing like the Nigerians. The Nigerians accepted us because we came as Ghanaians. Now it's the opposite,” he said.

Citing the example of Magic System's hit song "Amoulanga," which captivated audiences despite its obscure meaning, he stated that the ability of music to transcend borders is not due to language, but the simplicity and relatability of the music.

“Language is not a barrier. Take for example. Magic System did a song called Amoulanga. What's the meaning of Amoulanga? We don't know the meaning of Amoulanga and all of us were digging into it. Where is the barrier here?

“You don't need to look out for some kind of sophisticated arrangement or something. The simplicity of the rhythm or the lyrics can. If it is catchy, you can't stop it,” he said.

Source: Ghanaweb