Ghanaian Disc Jockey, Michael Mensah Ashley, popularly known as DJ Ashmen, has added his voice to the growing call for the Ghanaian music industry to embrace and promote its unique identity.
In a recent statement, DJ Ashmen emphasized the importance of Ghanaian music genres such as Highlife and Hiplife, urging musicians to be intentional about showcasing these distinctive sounds to the world. He cautioned against prioritizing foreign music genres in the quest for global recognition, pointing to Jamaica’s success in establishing a strong music identity with Reggae and Dancehall.
The Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency (CAA), Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, echoed similar sentiments at a stakeholder meeting, urging Ghana to develop a unique sound to enhance its global competitiveness in the music industry. She highlighted the need for Ghana to follow the example of countries linked to specific music genres, emphasizing the importance of building a strong musical presence on the global stage.
DJ Ashmen expressed concern over the industry’s tendency to overlook Ghana’s rich musical heritage in favor of foreign sounds. He challenged stakeholders to conduct research on Ghanaian music history, citing the roots of Highlife music and Burger Highlife by George Darko as examples of the country’s unique music styles. He questioned the industry’s fixation on sounding American, Jamaican, or Nigerian, emphasizing the importance of embracing and celebrating Ghana’s cultural music heritage.
Furthermore, DJ Ashmen noted that the lack of a distinct music sound has hindered the industry’s global appeal, cautioning against the trend of Ghanaian artists abandoning traditional sounds in pursuit of international recognition. He stressed the importance of preserving Ghana’s musical identity, highlighting the significance of Highlife as the foundation of Afrobeats.
DJ Ashmen reiterated the importance of establishing a strong music identity for Ghana, emphasizing the detrimental effects of the industry’s lack of identity on its future. He called for a renewed focus on promoting Ghanaian music genres and heritage, rather than emulating foreign trends in the pursuit of global appeal.
