Reggae Brewed In Upper West Region

Music, they say is the food for the soul and we know the type of song you listen to, can make or spoil your day! Whenever you listen to a song that makes you tap your feet and nod your head, give the artiste a thumbs up.

Becoming a successful musician in Northern Ghana is very difficult, that is finding a producer to fund your dream is not a child's play, those who are able to go beyond all odds and sail out successfully deserve a thumbs up from all quarters.

Born Ibrahim Moomin,on 13th December,1987 to Mr and Mrs Ibrahima in Buokrom-Kumasi,Ibrahim had his basic education at Wechaiu and latter furthered to Wa Sec.Tech.He added Badingu to his name,literally means "their will",and affectionately called Ras Badingu due to his dread logged hair and the type of songs he does.

Ras Badingu does Afro pop,Reggae,Highlife and Local or Tradional songs.

In an exclusive interview with Northerngh.com, Ibrahim Moomin Bdingu opens up his musical history to the world.

Ras Badingu told Northerngh.com he choose UNITY as his album title during the 2012 general elections, where he and other folks toured parts of the Upper West preaching through his songs against election violence.

"NUORE YIENG is my first album, but have collaborated with Yakubu Sabogu to bring out two albums in the year 2009 and 2010".

Northerngh.com spotted Ras Badingu at the venue for his album launch,In Service training center where he was rehearsing with his team prior to Friday 31st July,2015.Asked about his style he asaid he believes in Africa and think the black man can do more than what he os doing now"im a culturally conscious artist who prefer to sing in my native dialect of Waale and Dagaare,i also sing in Hausa,French and E3nglish. I want to preserve tradition and also educate people through my songs"

Ras Badingu won the best male vocalist recently at the Upper West Music Awards making him one of the most popular artiste in the region.Investigations done by Northerngh.com revealed that Ras Badingu's songs are the most played local songs on all the Radio stations in the Upper West Region.

He represented Ghana at the 2014 WAKA festival, which was held in Burkina Faso.WAKA is always celebrated in Ouagadougou,the capital of Burkina Faso.In 2012,King Ayisoba reoresented Ghana,Barimah Sydney also represented Ghana in 2013 and Ibrahim M.Badingu was there last year respectively.

Talking about songs that promote Northern Ghana: Upper west, Upper East and Northern Regions,we cant forget King Ayisoba,Wiyaala,Sherrifa Gunu,Imoro Ayaana,Yakubu Sabogu,A.A Konkor and a host of others who sing and rap in their local dialect,which have gone a long way to motivate young ones like Ras Badingu to also take the mantle.

Ibrahim outlined some dire challenges facing musicians in the Upper West to Northerngh.com,which all boils down to finances,people not believing in them and poor marketing by media houses in the Region.But Ras Badingu still says Heaven is the limit!

I take inspiration from Amandzeba Nat Brew,Alpha Blondy,Bob Marley,Batman Samini,Tiken jah Falkoly and other Northern Artistes.

Ibrahim Badingu,after all his struggle to have all his 18 tracks made into an album,he was suppoerted by DKM Group of companies.He is launching his NUORE YIENG album,come Friday 31st July,2015 at the In Service Training Center in Wa.The rates comes in Ghc10.00 for single and Ghc15.00 for partnres.

Emmanuel Agyemfra Boateng,Northerngh.com