GHANA GOVERNMENT, GHANAIAN MUSIC , AND EDUCATION

A few hours ago, I saw an article posted online by a fellow Ghanaian, discussing the fact that many Ghanaian musicians are high school dropouts. The article was intended to portray musicians as being less intelligent than those who have completed school. The article also stated many musicians tend to follow the crowd, and cannot think for themselves, therefore they regularly get cheated.

The fact is this: many musicians, educated or uneducated, get cheated. Period. People are evil and no matter how much education one may have, the possibility of being scammed or abused always exists. Many managers are shady, and they will cheat their musicians-educated or uneducated.

Education is very important. If you are in school and you have the ability to stay in school and go to university, go. If you are a musician and you are in university, and you are thinking of dropping out—do not do that. Stay in school, get your degree, and then you can have all the time in the world you need to focus on money. Many musicians have taken university classes, like Nino and Efya and many more. To judge a musician based on their educational status is ridiculous. Whether or not one has a university degree does not determine their worth. One person can have a university degree and be a complete inconsiderate being, while an “uneducated” person can have a heart of gold.

Fact 2: There are a few Ghanaian musicians, top musicians, who lost their parents during their years of schooling, and were therefore forced to drop out of school. Dropping out of school was by force, it was not an option. If it was up to them, they would be in school getting their PhDs right now, if the funding was available.

It is inaccurate to blame the stunted music industry on the so called “ignorance” of musicians, The Ghanaian music industry is not growing at a fast rate because “educated” managers are cheating their talent. It is not growing because some “educated” DJs and promoters want payment before they will play an artist's song. The music industry is not growing the way it should because “educated journalists” write articles that do not uplift the Ghanaian music industry. Instead, they write articles that negatively impact the Ghanaian music industry. VIP, Sarkodie, Tiffany, Ruff N Smooth, and others are involved in humanitarian efforts but you will never read articles about it because no one ever wants to write about that. Yet, when a singer is involved in a scandal, it multiplies over the internet so fast, it is like a gymnast doing flips during their floor exercise. It is not good. The music industry is not growing the way it should because “educated” people do not want to invest in music and talent. Unlike South Korea which appreciates their musicians and uses it as a foreign policy tool, it does not seem as if the Ghanaian government fully understands that music can easily be used as an economic development tool. Ruff N Smooth created the” Beautiful “ video—that video could have EASILY been used to promote Ghana Tourism. Zigi sang ,” U Sey Wey Tin “, a song which could have been used by the Ministry of Health to promote exercise in primary schools throughout Ghana. When people arrive at Kotoka Airport, the customs agents could easily give away a free CD of music to all entrants, welcoming them to Ghana. Kotoka Airport could have a concert series, right in their waiting lobby each month, with a different artist. There are so many ways that the Ghana government could incorporate music into its agenda in order to boost the image of Ghana, as a whole. Possigee wrote, “This is Who I am”- a song for the Children of the Future Foundation, yet it could easily be used to promote tourism in Ghana . That song could be used to highlight the wonders and landmarks of Ghana. Music is a language that has no barriers- it is understood by all. When one listens to a song, they do not ask, ” Oh, I wonder if this singer has a degree. If they do not have a degree, I will change the radio dial”. Nobody does this. Everyone, black or white, appreciates music because it touches the soul. Music is created based on life experiences, thoughts, and ideas. Yes, gold, wood, and diamonds are important resources prevalent in Ghana, but music and the musicians behind the music are resources that should be deemed equally vital in regards to the sustainability and advancement of the country of Ghana. What would happen if there was a Ministry of Music in the government? How would such a ministry interact with the existing ministries and affect the lives of people?

To say that Ghanaian musicians are “ignorant” and lack “knowledge”, as the author stated in his article, is a degrading statement not just towards the musicians, but the whole country of Ghana, because they are representing the Country. When Sarkodie won his BET Award, it was not an honor for him alone - it was for the whole country. Also, how does one define knowledge? Knowledge is unique to everyone—no two people have the same knowledge because no two people share the same life experiences. Also, in discussing the issue of “formal” education”, this is another topic that must be addressed. There is formal education – education in a school structure—and then there is non-formal education. Non-formal education is very prevalent in Ghana. When our elders talk to us about their lives, traditions, and rituals, that is non-formal education. When our mothers tell us stories about our deep rooted Ghanaian heritage, that is non-traditional, non-formal education. It is education we are receiving outside of a brick and mortar building. Who is to say that the education one receives in a “building” is more valuable than the education one receives in a school under a tree?? We must focus on CONTENT. One can go to a school that is equipped with the latest technology, yet learn absolutely nothing. Content is vital.

In conclusion, it is never too late to go back to school. As a Ghanaian music journalist, I personally know of SEVERAL top Ghanaian musicians (at least 6) who are in school RIGHT now, finishing up their degrees because they acknowledge the importance of education. These are people who have been nominated for or even received Ghana Music awards in the past. Let us not judge a musician because they are not in school or because they do not have a certificate, especially if we do not know their circumstance. Yes, education is important, but it is inaccurate to state that one lacks knowledge if they lack a degree- it is a false statement.

Ghana music, as long as we, the people, continue to support it and protect it , the way one protects their natural resources, will continue to flourish and will eventually take over the world stage. It is just a matter of time.