It’s hard to go international by sounding typical Ghanaian — Kelvyn Boy

Ghanaian Afrobeat singer Kelvyn Brown, popularly known as Kelvyn Boy, has shared his thoughts on why many Ghanaian artists tend to adopt Nigerian sounds in their music.

According to him, sounding “typically Ghanaian” limits an artist’s ability to break into the international music market.

Speaking with Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz on Accra-based Hitz FM, he noted that those who blend Ghanaian and Nigerian sounds have a better chance of crossing borders.

“We struggle when we sound typically Ghanaian. I mean, it doesn’t go far when we do it like that. Even if it does, it’s just within Ghana. Then later, we start asking why we are stuck here while others are going international,” Kelvyn Boy stated.

The 'Down Flat' hitmaker further explained that this approach is not unique to Ghanaians, citing how Nigerian artists also incorporate Ghanaian languages and styles to appeal to Ghanaian listeners.

“They don’t just stick to their own style; they sometimes borrow from us too. The fusion is what I’m talking about,” he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s the same Ghanaian audience listening to Nigerian songs. It’s about balance—they fuse different elements, and I think that’s something we are still figuring out,” he added.