Yes! It’s a fact! Ghana has not produced any international music icon in the past 30 years – this is a naked truth!
What do I mean by international music icon? I mean a musician that when you mention his or her name, one does not need to Google, read any newspaper, or ask someone to know about the fellow. My own semi-literate mother, who is a trader, even knows or has heard about American musician Michael Jackson – though she can’t sing any of Michael’s songs.
Mention Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, or Michael Jackson and the ordinary person on the streets of Accra Central is most likely to say ‘I’ve seen his picture before’ or ‘I’ve heard his songs before.’ I don’t know which part of the world you may be as you read this piece, but wherever you are, ask anyone to mention just one international music icon Ghana has produced in the past 30 years and reply to this piece.
List of legendary musicians Ghana has produced in the past 30 years (or even more) include; Kojo Antwi, Daddy Lumba, Amakye Dede, Oheneba Kissi, Gyedu Blay Ambulley, Pat Thomas, Jewel Ackah, Papa Yankson, Kofi Abraham, Mary Ghansah, Charles Amoah, Ben Brako, and others. Which of them is an international music icon?
Even two of Ghana’s music acts whose names always come up when we are talking about musicians who have taken Ghana international, thus, Osibisa and Ramblers International, according to my research, are not that popular worldwide – though it’s on record they toured extensively with Ghanaian music.