Legendary musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has voiced concerns over a significant disconnect between the younger and older generations of musicians in Ghana, which he believes is hindering the progress of the country’s music industry.
In a recent interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning show, Ambolley, a pioneering figure in hiplife music, expressed his sadness over the lack of interaction between seasoned artists and emerging talents. He attributed this gap to the younger generation’s reluctance to learn from their more experienced predecessors.
“One thing I’ve become sorry about is that there’s a gap between the older and younger musicians,” Ambolley said. He emphasized that the current crop of artists needs to acquire knowledge from their predecessors to enhance their promotional skills and overall craft.
To address this issue, Ambolley proposed that industry stakeholders organize seminars and workshops that bring together both established and new artists. This would facilitate the transfer of knowledge and strengthen the bond between different generations.
He criticized the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) for not adequately fulfilling its role in fostering educational events and networking opportunities. “We need to have a place where we can do seminars, workshops, and things like that so that we can put ideas behind. The younger ones are carrying the music forward, but they need knowledge. Musicians Union has to be able to organize all these things, bringing the old and young together because it’s our union,” he said.
Ambolley also pointed out that the union’s focus should shift from personal gains to creating robust structures that benefit the entire industry. He noted that younger musicians often turn to foreign styles due to a lack of adequate local resources.
“The younger ones that are coming don’t see the light. So, when they get their computers and hear music from Europe and things like that, they start baffling with it,” Ambolley explained. He urged all industry players to reconsider the direction of Ghanaian music and invest in promoting its unique genres globally, rather than adopting external influences.
While Ambolley expressed his willingness to support the industry, he mentioned that his current travel schedule limits his ability to contribute more actively, as he is frequently out of the country.
