Ghanaian music can’t transcend borders because we are trying to sound like Nigerians – Amandzeba

Veteran Highlife performer Amandzeba Nat Brew of Ghana has shared his thoughts on why it is so hard for Ghanaian music to go international.

Amandzeba recalled a period when Ghanaian musicians were well-known in Nigeria and certain regions of Central Africa during an interview with Hitz FM on September 3, 2024.

He pointed out that the trend has flipped, with Ghanaian musicians now attempting to imitate Nigerian styles instead of embracing their own Ghanaian identity.

“Ghanian musicians dominated eastern Nigeria about three or four decades ago. You might wonder, then, how they managed to spread throughout West Africa. Furthermore, it extends all the way to Central Africa. Thus, I find myself wondering why Joe Mensah was so well-known in Nigeria.

“Why is everything the opposite now? Our attempt to sing in a Nigerian style is the cause. Because we arrived as Ghanaians, the Nigerians welcomed us. It is now the opposite,” he stated.

He said that music’s ability to transcend boundaries is not a result of language but rather of its simplicity and relatability, using Magic System’s hit song “Amoulanga” as an example. The song captivated audiences despite its obscure meaning.

“A barrier is not their language. Consider this one example. Amoulanga is one of Magic System’s songs. How does Amoulanga mean something? All of us were researching Amoulanga, even though none of us knew what it meant. Here, where is the barrier located?

“You do not have to search for an intricate setup or anything like that. The lyrics or the beat’s simplicity can. “You can not stop it if it is catchy,” he stated.