You might be wondering how an all-sports event will help the entertainment business. Well, after some careful consideration, I discovered how the 2023 African Games held in Accra helped our music industry.
The African games began on March 8, 2024 and ended on March 23, 2024. This marked 15 days of sporting activities and most importantly, music. At every venue of the games, there was a DJ situated to play music.
My first day at the games was at the weightlifting event at the University of Ghana. While I covered the sport, I couldn’t help but enjoy the background music.
At every point of music played, it was Ghanaian. I recollect hearing a lot of Shatta Wale’s songs, and that is understandable. Shatta is one of the few artistes here in Ghana who makes a lot of motivational songs, the kind of motivation the sportsmen need. The DJs really outdid themselves with the music.
Watch Shatta Wale’s performance at the opening ceremony of 13th African Games
It didn’t end there, it was massive at the University of Ghana sports stadium during the athletics, it was at that time I was convinced that indeed, Ghana music has travelled far. Two Ugandan ladies stood beside me during one of the athletics events and sang word-for-word Shatta Wale’s ‘Melissa’. They mentioned how much they loved Kidi, King Promise and Shatta Wale.
It just dawned on me at that moment that Ghana is killing it on the continent, we’re just placing our attention at the wrong places.
How has the games been beneficial to our music industry?
The event brought together fans and most importantly media personalities from all across the continent. They came in here with their ears loaded with Ghanaian music.
Just take a minute to think about how far our artistes will etch their names across the continent even if 60 percent of these journalists and fans leave Ghana with one of our songs as their favorite, just imagine.
Already, the attendees of the opening and closing ceremonies of the games have witnessed the Shatta Wale, King Promise, Wiyaala and Stonebwoy supremacies.
These are already global names and you could argue that everyone already knows them, but there’s that one person who likes them even more now and where he or she would mention their names, it would definitely be louder.
African Games: Watch Stonebwoy’s full performance at closing ceremony
For an event of that nature, I sincerely expected to hear a lot of Nigerian music, you can bear witness to how Nigerian music cuts across the continent and it would make sense if the DJs decided to do that, giving us music we can all relate to as a collective.
BUT I was wrong, very wrong! This is why I mentioned earlier that we may just have placed our eyes at the wrong place, we can actually conquer the continent. It is Possible.
To all the DJs who represented at the games’ venues, this is an appreciation for all your work, and if this was a directive that was given, I humbly congratulate the authorities and organizing committee for that.
If it wasn’t, I still want to seize the opportunity to commend the organizers of the games for the good work done, and the service done to the music industry.
By: Cyril Anani Senason