Sarkodie, Stonebwoy & Shatta Wale Are Not Famous Abroad Compared to Nigerian Artistes – Manasseh

Manasseh Azure Awuni has spoken out against Nigerian artistes' continued domination over their Ghanaian counterparts and what might be done to change the situation.

In a recent Facebook post that has sparked debate, the Ghanaian investigative journalist stated that it is “extremely sad” that Ghana's three mainstream artists, Sarkodie, Shatta Wake, and Stonebwoy, are unknown in Europe and America, whereas Wizkid, Davido, and other Nigerian artists are household names.

This is what he said;

“I was listening to BBC Sports on Saturday.” The broadcast took place in the YFM studios in Kumasi, Ghana. It featured BBC journalists and their Ghanaian equivalent sports journalists, all of whom performed admirably.

I felt proud listening to George Addo Jnr Nathaniel Attoh Citizen Attoh and others. Getting to the end of the show, the host asked the BBC journalists about their favourite afrobeat musicians.

While they were yet to name names, the host offered to help them. He asked them whether they knew Wizkid. They said yes. Then he asked if they knew Davido. They said yes. Then the host switched to Ghana. He asked if they knew Shatta Wale.

They declined. Sarkodie? They declined. Stonebwoy? No. I was concerned that our three most well-known brands were unknown outside of Africa, despite claims to the contrary made on our airwaves by those claiming to know Nigerian musicians. Does this imply that Sarkodie, Stonbwoy, and Shatta Wale aren't up to par?

That is far from the case. It means that each performer has a global audience of nearly 7 billion people. So you don't have to “f.ck Nigerians” if you fill a stadium in Ghana with a few thousand fans.

You'll need Nigerians, the sub-most region's populous English-speaking country, where you'll land your biggest gigs outside of Ghana. Not a modest stadium in Ghana, but the entire world is your platform. To those who have ears…”