Ghanaian singer and producer Ephraim has asserted that his efforts at rebranding as a musician does not include his physical outlook.
The musician said his singular focus at rebranding now is making the content he produces much better.
“I am not rebranding my image, I am just rebranding the product not the image. For my dreadlocks, I might only cut it when asked by God and even at that, I believe we will have to strike a deal first”, he said jovially on Y107.9FM’s Myd Morning Show.
Reacting to the recent case of the Achimota School refusing admission to some students because of their dreadlocks, Ephraim condemned the school’s actions. “The school didn’t treat the boys fairly. I have seen these same schools give the exact exemptions to foreign students, allowing them keep their hair”.
To him, all these boil down to the perception most Ghanaians have about the Rastafari culture and persons wearing dreadlocks. “People have the perception that Rastafarians do drugs and that is wrong”.
Sharing a stereotypical experience he had in no other place than the house of God with host, Rev Erskine, he said, “I used to help out at a church sometime back. I led praises and worship, played the keyboard and helped them out with their sound until an elder of the church came to tell me I can’t mount the platform with my dreadlocks”.
The said elder claimed Ephraim was negatively influencing the church’s youth by wearing dreadlocks. This experience forced Ephraim out of the church he loved to serve in so he could enjoy his peace of mind.
“I don’t smoke or drink. It is not that I once did these things and stopped but I have never smoked”, he revealed.
The music producer believes every individual must have her/his choices respected and advised Ghanaians against having preconceived conceptions about others.
By: Joel Sanco