Ghanaian actor Bernard Aduse-Poku has stated that Nigerian musician Wizkid is a household name in the US but his Ghanaian counterparts are not.
According to him, songs belonging to the starr boy Wizkid and other Nigerian artistes are mostly played on American airwaves, night clubs and parties but one hardly hears that of Ghanaian big acts such as Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Samini, Daddy Lumba, M.anifest and others.
He said some Ghanaian musicians are only champions within Ghanaian circles in America but not known by American DJs and presenters.
Mr Aduse-Poku cited that Shatta Wale’s songs are enjoyed by only Ghanaians in America and not Americans or other foreigners.
He said Sarkodie and Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale don’t come near Nigerian artiste Mr Eazi whose songs are sang by Latinos in America.
Speaking on Ultimate Showbiz hosted by Austine Woode, Mr Aduse-Poku said the only Ghanaian song he has ever heard since his five-year stay in America is ‘Adonai’ by Sarkodie and Castro.
He said Nigerian acts are serious about the marketing of aspect of their music but Ghanaian music lacks international publicity.
‘In America, you only hear Ghanaian music at Ghanaian parties. You don’t hear Ghanaian songs on prime time radio…You have no idea the Nigerian songs being played during prime time in America, Power FM and they are playing Nigerian music. Right now Wizkid is a household name in America, whether you like it or not, they play his songs on Power FM, Z-One FM, Hot FM in New York. These Nigerian artistes have taken the lead, whatever they are doing is working for them, they play Davido, Tecno’s songs on radio during prime time, even those guys who host afro-centric shows don’t even play Ghanaian songs,’ he said.
He doubted if there had been some crazy improvement in the promotion of Ghanaian music admitting that the standard of music production has been sustained.
He observed that the Ghanaian music is facing marketing crisis saying the songs produced doesn’t travel outside Ghana.
The Kumawood actor stated that Ghanaian artistes have refused to learn from their colleagues in other parts of the World by pushing the frontiers of music on the international market.
Mr Aduse-Poku advised musicians to network and not to just visit the US without promoting their songs.
He praised Shatta Wale for being almost at par with Jamaican dancehall artiste Mavado, advising Ghanaian musicians to tap into the ideas of Mr Eazzy to promote their brands.
‘I honestly don’t think Ghanaian musicians are doing well with their career. I wouldn’t say we have had some crazy improvement. Because if you are telling me there has been an improvement, it means when you cast your mind back, lets say two, three years ago, we were not doing anything good. I think the standard has rather been sustained,.. 2017 was an interesting year as far as music is concerned, it was a year in Ghana, we had so many new artistes, who were on top of the game. If you take five artistes who made it so big in 2017, three of them might be new artistes….we are doing music, but it doesn’t go anywhere, that is the problem,’ he pointed out.
He doubted if there is any top-notch radio Ghanaian presenter who works with a radio station in America saying there is a Nigerian present in US who promotes Nigerian songs.
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