Ghanaians should celebrate artistes’ international achievements rather than undermine them — Nana Frimpong Zigah

Entertainment personality Nana Frimpong Zigah has called on Ghanaians to focus on celebrating the achievements of Ghanaian artistes who represent the country on international stages, rather than deliberately seeking to undermine their successes for bragging rights.

His comments come amid the social media banter that followed Stonebwoy’s BHIM Festival UK concert at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on August 15, 2026.

The concert marked a significant milestone for Ghanaian music, as the OVO Arena Wembley described it as the first time a Ghanaian artiste had headlined the iconic London venue. The official venue listing also confirms Stonebwoy’s headline performance and a lineup featuring artistes including Samini, DopeNation, Mr P and Ofori Amponsah.

However, after the concert, sections of social media became focused on the curtains used to cover parts of the upper level of the auditorium. Some users used the images to mock the event and question the extent of attendance, with the controversy eventually becoming a major talking point online.

Against this backdrop, Nana Frimpong Zigah believes the conversation should instead centre on the historic nature of the achievement and what it means for Ghanaian music globally.

He argued that Ghanaians must recognise that when a Ghanaian artiste steps onto a major international platform, the achievement goes beyond the individual artiste and contributes to the country's overall musical identity and visibility.

According to him, celebrating such milestones could help create a stronger international image for Ghanaian artistes and potentially open doors for more musicians to secure major opportunities around the world.

Nana Frimpong Zigah further appealed to established and A-list artistes to desist from undermining fellow musicians after they have represented Ghana on international assignments.

He suggested that competition and rivalry within the music industry are understandable, but they should not reach a point where artistes attempt to diminish another Ghanaian artiste's international achievement simply to gain bragging rights among their respective fanbases.

His comments also touch on the wider debate about fanbase rivalry in Ghanaian music, where supporters of different artistes frequently engage in online banter.

While such competition can generate publicity and keep artistes relevant, Nana Frimpong Zigah believes there should be a clear distinction between healthy rivalry and behaviour that undermines Ghanaian music as a whole.

He maintained that Ghanaian artistes can compete fiercely for dominance while still recognising and celebrating major achievements by their colleagues, particularly when those achievements take place on international stages.