Ambolley warns European influence on Ghana’s young musicians, calls for mentorship

Legendary Ghanaian highlife musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has expressed concerns about the disconnect between older and younger generations of musicians, calling for more structured mentorship and knowledge-sharing within the music industry.

In an interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning show, Ambolley highlighted the need for workshops and seminars to equip young musicians with the wisdom of their predecessors.

“One thing I’ve become sorry about is that there’s a gap between the older and younger musicians,” Ambolley remarked.

“We need to have a place where we can do seminars, workshops, and things like that so that we can put ideas behind. The younger ones are carrying the music forward, but they need knowledge. Musicians Union has to be able to organize all these things, bringing the old and young together because it’s our union.”

Ambolley emphasized the importance of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) in fostering this connection, noting that the lack of guidance is evident in the music young artists produce.

According to him, many rising stars lean heavily on European music styles without fully understanding the rich heritage of Ghanaian music.

“The younger ones that are coming don’t see the light. So, when they get their computers and hear music from Europe and things like that, they start baffling with it,” he said.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s message resonates with the growing conversation around the preservation of African music traditions, urging both industry leaders and musicians to create spaces where cultural heritage and contemporary trends can coexist.

His call for unity within MUSIGA is seen as a step toward ensuring the sustainability of Ghanaian music across generations.