Nigerians are claiming highlife because Ghanaians don’t cherish it –Ben Brainy

Ghanaian musician Ben Brainy has sparked a conversation about Ghana’s music industry following his recent appearance on Bryt TV.

Addressing a growing concern, Ben Brainy pointed out that Ghanaians do not hold on to their cultural and musical heritage long enough, which has allowed Nigerians to dominate and claim ownership of Highlife music.

Highlife music, one of Ghana’s most treasured music genres, has played a crucial role in shaping African music. With pioneers like the Kumasi Trio, E.K. Nyame, E.T. Mensah, Nana Ampadu, King Bruce, Onyina, Agya Koo Nimo and others, highlife has long been a symbol of Ghanaian identity.

However, Ben Brainy believes that Ghana has not done enough to preserve and promote the genre.

According to the HomeTown Records signee, Ghanaian musicians often abandon their traditional sounds in pursuit of newer trends, leaving a gap that Nigerian artists have strategically filled. By fusing Highlife with Afrobeat, Nigerians have managed to rebrand and commercialize the genre, gaining international recognition while Ghana struggles to maintain its influence.

“We don’t hold onto our own for long. We started highlife, but now it’s the Nigerians who are making it big with it. We leave what we have and chase other things,” Ben Brainy lamented during the interview with El Baby.

He urged Ghanaian musicians and industry players to be more intentional about preserving and promoting Ghana’s musical identity, rather than allowing foreign influences to overshadow it. He emphasized that if Ghanaians want to maintain ownership of Highlife, they must invest in the genre, push it globally, and take pride in their cultural heritage.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

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