Legendary Ghanaian highlife musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has urged Ghanaian artistes to refrain from declaring themselves kings of music genres that originate outside the country, stressing the importance of respecting the cultural roots of such musical styles.
According to the veteran musician, while creativity and musical exploration are important for artistic growth, it is inappropriate for Ghanaian musicians to claim titles such as “king” of genres that were developed in other countries. He noted that these genres have their own pioneers and cultural heritage which should be acknowledged and respected.
Ambolley explained that Ghana has its own rich musical traditions, particularly Highlife music, which has influenced many modern sounds across the continent. He encouraged Ghanaian musicians to focus on promoting and elevating indigenous genres rather than seeking recognition through foreign styles.
The highlife legend also stressed that Ghanaian artistes have the potential to dominate globally if they invest more effort in preserving and modernising their own musical heritage. According to him, highlife remains the foundation of many contemporary African music styles, including Afrobeats, and deserves greater attention from the country’s younger generation of musicians.
Ambolley further advised artistes to take pride in their cultural identity and contribute to strengthening Ghana’s music industry by producing authentic sounds that reflect the nation’s traditions and values.
He noted that celebrating Ghanaian music and culture will not only preserve the country’s artistic legacy but also position local musicians to gain greater respect on the international stage.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates within the Ghanaian music industry about identity, originality and the growing influence of foreign music genres on local artistes.
