Ghanaian Reggae and Dancehall artist, Jupitar, recently expressed his discontent with the challenges faced by musicians who opt not to sing in English, particularly those not utilizing the Twi language. Jupitar contends that gaining recognition becomes an uphill battle for artists who choose alternative languages.
According to the artist, many radio stations in Ghana predominantly feature Twi and Pidgin songs, leaving little room for those using different languages. He shared his observations during an appearance on D-Black’s Uncut show, stating, “Most of our radio stations in our media space have chosen one particular language that they will promote.
There is a very good rapper in the north who actually raps in Dagati or Sissala. But he can’t fluently speak Twi or pidgin… if you take that music to Accra, it won’t get up to two airplays.”
Jupitar argued that songs with pidgin English, like Fancy Gadam’s ‘Total Cheat,’ receive airplay on radio stations due to their language appeal.
He went on to cite successful African artists from Nigeria, such as Focalistic, Phyno, and Asake, who achieve recognition despite singing in their native languages.
In making his case, Jupitar emphasized the need for Ghana’s creative space not to limit songs to one language, urging a more inclusive approach that recognizes diverse linguistic expressions within the music industry.
Source: Zionfelix.net
