Musicians in Ghana are always a target of exploitation by some corporate entities such as management firms, productions firms, event organizers, record labels, schools and even churches.
Most often they use the name or the works of artists without informing them or even if with their permission refuse to pay them the money they are due. This affects the musicians negatively in so many ways but with time if the musician has a good PR; it makes the damage control very easy and fast.
After a few days it’s as if nothing happened. On the other hand, political parties also use music or sometimes the musicians themselves for their campaigns prior to elections to attract more of the people’s votes.
Though the political parties pay the musicians reasonable amounts when they hire their services or their songs, the damage done the musician is unworkable but because the musicians are paid huge sums of money when they associate themselves publicly with politics they turn to forget about the upshot.
Music is supposed to be very clean, decent and sacred. Therefore music and politics are direct opposite like a box of match and petrol. Meaning its affiliation with politics is very unhealthy in our part of the world. Evidently musicians like Nana Kwame Ampadu who some how affiliated with NDC, Jewel Ackah who once did a campaign jingle for NDC and performed openly on their rally grounds, Cindy Thompson who popular hit song “Awuradi Kasa” was used by NPP to win the 2000 elections, Prophet Seth Frimpong whose popular song “Mi huwiri so” was used by NPP for the 2004 elections and any musician who has had any political affiliation whatsoever has had a great fall irrespective of the outcome of the elections.
After this, the dark winds of politics blows over their music career and they loose almost all their fans particularly because of that political attaché. Some musicians also use politics to sell their music. For instance Evangelist Diana Asamoah had a political affiliation in her music video with shots of President Kuffour and some projects. Though some thought it wasn’t really necessary, she perhaps politicized it just to win the sympathy of President Kufour’s admirers to purchase her songs which off course worked for her
“Politics is a different ball game all together especially when it comes to Africa. Where leaders go to the extent of “killing” their fellow human being not even for holy power but a mere worldly power which lasts just for a short time”, a newspaper once reported. Because of the dubious and corrupt manner politics is played in Africa where red is presented as white just to maintain or win power it makes it very dangerous for people who ignorantly join their train. Hence the saying “politics is a dirty game” and funny names like “Politricks” (political tricks) among others.
Though politics has also being there, it is mostly on the negative side than positive. As it is already known music is universal. Since its existence from time of creation music is to entertain, educate and inform. Naturally, music is the greatest tool for expression of human feeling at different places and in different manners.
The sad person may use music for consolation, a happy person may use music for celebration and “love birds” may use music to express love to their partners. Religiously music is used in different ways depending on the type of religion. Like Christians may use music to praise, worship and express thanks to the God they serve. Music is indeed one of humanity’s greatest gifts for expression.
However politicians have nothing to loose its strictly business. Obviously they recognize how powerful music is, in conveying their party slogans. They only knock at the door of these musicians only when its election time and pretend not to have the slightest ideal of the problems facing the industry when they come to power. It is clear that in all this, the musician has everything to loose. Why would a musician associate him or herself with politics at the expense of his or her career? Ghanaian musicians should try as much as they can to keep their music off politics as another election year approaches.
To the politicians, if they truly know the importance of the artistes and the industry, they should consciously make an effort at strengthening the institutions within the sector, irrespective of their political divide. Clear all subversive elements and bring on board all non- aligned musicians under one umbrella of progress within the industry.
