Music groups like Akyeame, Akatakyie, Wutah, 4X4, VIP, R2Bees, Praye, 5Five, and BukBak, among many others, dominated the radios in the 1990s and early 2000s. They attended concerts alongside solo artists and fiercely competed for them, winning several coveted and prestigious accolades at the Ghana Music Awards, the largest entertainment calendar in Ghana.
The situation has changed over the past ten years, though, and it most likely deteriorated in the most recent years. Due to the drastic decline in the number of music groups, the Ghana Music Awards, the largest music awards program, had to do away with the Best Group of the Year category for this year's show. Discussions concerning the performance and condition of the once-vibrant music groups that have faded into obscurity are further heightened by the fact that it seems that only DopeNation and Keche are currently representing the secular music group.
Wutah Kobby, a member of the now-defunct Wutah organization, is not pleased with the state of affairs. Additionally, he claimed in a recent interview with the Daily Graphic that a range of skills helped bands stand out and write outstanding music. The diversity of music contributes to the vibrancy of music groups. It is my belief that single artists can always collaborate to create music. "Look at La Meme Gang; they are individual artists that collaborate to make music before splitting off into other groups.
"Being an official member of the group is not necessarily necessary. Additionally, the benefit of a group is that members work together to develop their special talents, which produces magic, he said. He added that financial support is a significant advantage of group membership. Artists can split the expenses and duties of writing music and running their careers when they work together in a musical ensemble. Everyone benefits from this because no one individual has to deal with everything by themselves. When there is more than one individual bearing the burden, it is easier financially. Collaborating enables musicians to hone their distinct abilities, producing imaginative and diverse music," he stated.
Kobby said that he began his career as a solo artist and reflected on his personal experience with his group. However, when the Nescafe African Revolution competition looked for musical groups, he was forced to join forces with Afriyie to establish Wutah. They banded together to form Wutah in order to escape disqualification, and he has no regrets about it because it finally allowed them to realize their goals and succeed in the music business. “Until the Nescafe African Revelations competition, which was exclusively for groups, came along, we were solo artists pursuing our individual careers. We were able to realize our dream by banding together," he said.
Additionally, he commended legendary bands for influencing their musical heritage. He emphasized how bands like Osibisa, The Wailers, and The Jackson Five had a long-lasting influence on the business. Great names like Osibisa, Bob Marley of the Wailers, and Michael Jackson of the Jackson Five are worth mentioning. He asserted that music groups are and will continue to be vibrant, but this is not in contrast to solo artists. Many great artists in Ghana, Kobby noted, had kept their energy by playing with bands, which he also regarded as a group.