‘Such Nonsense’, KOD Scolds Ambulley Over Alleged Claim About VGMA

Ace Radio Presenter and Master of Ceremony (MC), Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) has expressed his dismay with recent remarks made by veteran musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley about the current state of the music genre, highlife.

The ‘radumzo’ ‘sumigwa’ crooner in an interview with Graphic Showbiz said that the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) has vitiated the highlife music genre. 

He said giving the ultimate awards to artists in other music genres in the VGMA has impacted the fortunes of highlife. 

He also put forward concerns about the quality of artists nominated in the Best Highlife Artiste of the Year category of the awards. 

โ€œIt is unfortunate that people think when you sing in Twi or Fante over a Dancehall or Reggae beats it automatically makes it Highlife music. That is not true but it has become the norm over the years because these are the kinds of music VGMA rewards.โ€

โ€œToday, if anyone wants to have an idea of what Ghana represents in terms of music, I bet the person will not count any Highlife artiste since all the perceived big acts currently are not doing Highlife.โ€

โ€œWe have buried our own and pursuing Dancehall music and the likes and interestingly, the VGMA has been promoting the agenda by rewarding such artists with the topmost prizes,โ€ he said.

In his response, KOD depicted Ambolleyโ€™s contention as โ€œnonsense.โ€

He intimated that the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards has paid its dues intensely to the Ghanaian music industry.

โ€œWhich awards scheme has projected our music industry like VGMA since independence? How many have projected our musicians beyond GH? How many have consistently done more than 10 years?โ€ he wrote on his Facebook timeline. 

The ‘1957’ Clothing line founder said Ambolley should rather lay the blame on radio stations.

โ€œWhen was the last time he released an album? He should be blaming some of the radio stations that donโ€™t even play our music. 

When was the last time or how often do you hear highlife on the radio? VGMA cause am?โ€ added. 

Read KODโ€™s full post on Facebook below: 

Such nonsense!

Which awards scheme has projected our music industry like VGMA since independence? How many have projected our musicians beyond GH? How many have consistently done more than 10 years?

Some of our musicians have failed to evolve and are quick to blame others for their mishaps. When was the last time he released an album? He should be blaming some of the radio stations that donโ€™t even play our music. 

When was the last time or how often do you hear highlife on the radio? VGMA cause am? 

People should look at evolving and projecting themselves instead of pointing and accusing fingers. 

Ambulley should be bigger than this petty comment and should check how he discredits his fellow industry colleagues too. Youโ€™re a true celebrity. Donโ€™t go this path, Sir.

As one of the last of our greats left, this is below him.

ยฉ 2023 โ— Edem L. Nukafu
Writer’s email: edemlatsu093@gmail.com


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