- Ghanaian music struggles globally due to Nigerian style imitation
- Amandzeba recalls past success in Nigeria and Central Africa
- Authenticity and simplicity key to global music appeal
Veteran Ghanaian Highlife musician Amandzeba Nat Brew has weighed in on the difficulties faced by Ghanaian artists in achieving international recognition. In an interview with Hitz FM on September 3, 2024, Brew reflected on a time when Ghanaian music enjoyed significant popularity in Nigeria and various parts of Central Africa.
Brew noted that the landscape has shifted dramatically, with current Ghanaian artists seemingly imitating Nigerian trends rather than celebrating their own unique Ghanaian identity. He questioned why, despite past successes, Ghanaian artists now struggle to make a similar impact abroad.
“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,” Brew said. “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.”
Brew also cited the success of Magic System’s song “Amoulanga” as evidence that music can transcend cultural barriers through simplicity and relatability rather than complex lyrical content.
“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?” he said. “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.”
