My Focus As An Artiste Is Not To Win Award - Atumpan

Ghanaian dancehall artiste Atumpan has said that even though he was delighted to have been officially endorsed in three categories of the just-ended 2012 VGMA, his focus as a musician is not to win awards.

Atumpan was nominated in three categories at the just-ended VGMA, but failed to win an award.

However, according to him, his focus was directed at having people dance to his songs.

He said, 'For me, being there wasn't actually my focus. If I was even nominated in one spot, I would have been happy. I am just new. Ghana has not had enough of me yet, they are yet to have enough of me. There is more to come from Atumpan that could really put me there well than this. So I am just happy for the three nominations I had.'

'I say that because my happiness lies with the fact that my audience or my fans love what I do and they call me for shows and pay me for what I do. The awards are a good thing and it's just a privilege that is added to the fans and to the money that you get but that is not my focus as an artiste,' he added.

Frank Elinam Cobbinah, known in showbiz circles as Atumpan, was speaking in an interview with Xfm 95.1.

'The Thing' hit maker cautioned that 'If you really want to make getting an award your focus, then it means that you will have to make songs that will please only the panel who selects that songs and that is not my focus as an artiste.'

According to him, he wanted to do songs for the whole world and compose songs which would please everybody.

Atumpan however called on MUSIGA and government to support musicians in terms of remuneration and awards because 'there is lots of exploitation that is done to musicians.'

'All I want to say is that this awards scheme could be done well and people could get paid well and someone could even get a car or house for winning just an award and not just GH¢ 3,000 because we have the resources, we have everything in place so other people should come on board to make it bigger', he stated.

Commenting passionately about life as a musician, Frank Elinam said, 'We don't get CD sales, how much are we paid for the shows we do? Every musician in Ghana is crying and when we go out we dress nicely and let people feel that we have money but trust me, there is nothing in it'.

Story by Dennis Nii Lantey Lawson/Xfm95.1/Accra/Ghana