Ghanaian rapper Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known as Sarkodie, has opened up on the poor reception some Ghanaian artistes received at a recent Zylofon Concert in Nigeria.
Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Monday, the “Highest” hitmaker said he faced similar challenges where Nigerians barely gave him a wave or nod during several performances in their country.
He explained that their music industry is controlled to the extent that foreign artistes might be popular but their songs won’t penetrate their market, hence, a foreign artiste staging a performance is likely to be snubbed.
“I used to have very bad reception and response from them. I was known by the industry but they control what to listen to. In America, they know Afrobeat. They have their territories guarded. When you go there it’s rare to find our songs on TV. I had worse and I remember going to the club and not even a person waved,” he told Andy.
Asked how he was able to penetrate the Nigerian market and how Ghanaian artistes could sell outside, Sarkodie said “It took consistency… it took a long time for it to happen. It came with affiliation with their artistes. They don’t embrace easily. I don’t blame a country for not entertaining you. I think Ghana loves to cook for everyone. We support everyone and it has its disadvantages. They (Nigerian) won’t do that and the advantage is, they protect that and dominate…” he explained.
According to Sarkodie, artistes in Ghana don’t have to see penetrating the Nigerian industry as a huge success.
He told Andy that Ghanaians need to be more patriotic to sell their contents abroad.
“No! We don’t have to get in there. We always feel like getting in there. What every powerful country does is loving themselves. Everyone wants to travel to Jamaica. I have never been there but there is something selling them. It makes you want to join because they enjoy their own…” he said.
Some top Ghanaian acts including Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale experienced “mute” reactions from Nigerian fans during their performances in Nigeria at a Zylofon concert just a few days ago.
The crowd in Nigeria could hardly recognise or appreciate the Ghanaian artistes compared to the cheer Nigerian acts receive when they play their songs during events in Ghana.