Publicity is very necessary in the music industry. It can either make or break a musician. It is of no surprise that almost all musicians around the globe have resorted to using publicity to their advantage.

It becomes a real challenge when people join the publicity train to dilute issues on board. These pose serious challenges for such musicians on how to deal with such bad publicity.

One popular trend that is emerging in Ghana’s music industry is musicians’ mothers adding their voices to their children’s music career issues. Not only do they talk about such issues once, but perform this act over and over again.

Such acts either create more public awareness for the said musician or damage the career of the fellow. Two musicians whose mothers have chastised them publicly are Okomfour Kwadee and Shatta Wale.

Kwadee’s Unofficial PRO – His Mother

From somewhere 2009, news circulated that one of Ghana’s best storytellers, Okomfour Kwadee, had gone mad. This came at a time when music lovers weren’t hearing new releases from him. It was speculated that he had gone mad because of his excessive use of weed. Others were also of the view that he had been suffering from High Fever. At a point in time, it was reported that he went “off-board” whilst performing at a show in Koforidua. Following all these reports, Kwadee was once in a while spotted on various media platforms clearing the air…

Nobody knows who appointed his mother as his Public Relations Officer. She went round addressing the issue of her son’s state of affair. It got to a point where Kwadee himself became angry and warned his mom never to go on media platforms to address issues concerning him.

Funny enough, Kwadee’s mum advised him to quit music since he wasn’t mentally well. This attracted lot of attention. As the mum was insisting her son was sick, Kwadee was also denying the allegation. This, in fact, did not help Kwadee who was trying to resuscitate his career in terms of publicity.

Shatta Wale’s ‘Overcaring’ Mum

The man of many controversies – the Shatta Wale himself, the only self-acclaimed Dancehall King in Ghana has been attached by his own mother. According to rumours, Shatta was abandoned by his family because of his lifestyle which the family consider inappropriate, making him the black sheep of the family.

He was once spotted at the Bass Awards with his girlfriend and mother. For Shatta’s mum to have followed his son to the awards, one would conclude there must be a good relationship between them. What then happened?

Some few weeks now, the mum – Mama Elsie – has being on various media platforms saying his son is under a spell (charm). According to her, Shatta has been out of touch with the family for quite a long time, and per what her church Bishop told her, Shatta’s behaviour is characterised by a spiritual spell, making him spend money on girls and not paying any financial attention to his family.

Are there not other ways by which these people can talk to their wards without using the media? Is the media the best place to address such issues? Whatever it is, such publicity acts are not favouring the careers of their wards. As parents who have insight, I guess they can think far better and resort to the best form of addressing matters relating to the image of their children.