Ghana/Nigeria who owns Afrobeats? Bessa Simons gives his verdict

Legendary highlife musician Bessa Simons, has laid to rest the battle between Ghana and Nigeria about who owns the ‘Afrobeats’ genre.
Speaking in an interview with Kojo Manuel on ‘Disco Diaries’ on The DrYve of ur Lyf on Y 107.9 FM, he said:’’ The late legend Fela Ransome Kuti pioneered afrobeat in the 60s and 70s. This older style featured ferocious lyrics that were brutally honest in their criticism of Nigeria’s social and political structure. His live performances featured backing vocalists who were not professional singers, but they sung with authentic Nigerian voice and tone. Fela started afro beats that is why Nigerians lay claim to it.
He mentioned that even if Ghanaians rely on the influences of afro beats to make their music, they should never forget to fuse in the highlife elements.
‘’In Ghana our song is highlife, and we have different types of highlife music. So if we do afro beats it should be afro beats highlife so that it can be traced to Ghana. And note that there is highlife in every music’’ he said.
He went on to advise that upcoming musicians should study the compositions of the older generation of musicians.
‘’Music is changing, someone will see Sarkordie rap and will also want to rap too without knowing exactly what goes into rap. You need to know the rudiments (bars, chords) of music. Now people don’t know the history of music, we have to encourage young people to listen to Nana Ampadu, C.K Mann, George Darko, Jewel Ackaah among others to enrich their knowledge of authentic Ghanaian music’’ he noted.
He noted that government support will also be needed to encourage young people to do authentic Ghanaian music.
‘’With all these influences coming in, we need government to support people who are doing authentic Ghanaian music. We need to introduce them to our music. Now when they sing our songs they sound like fake Nigerians singing Ghanaian songs. A Nigerian won’t do that’’ he observed.
Every Thursday, Disco Diaries seeks to communicate and exhibit the tangible and intangible heritage of our music heroes, open you up to their experiences and have a deeper understanding of their legacy.
Don’t miss Disco Diaries on The DrYve On Y 107.9 FM with Kojo Manuel and DJ Mic Smith this and every Thursday and experience your music heroes as they share their glorious conquests.
By: Bridget Mensah