Mr. Bessa Simons, Acting President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), believes that helping talented musicians who want to pursue a career in highlife music is one way to ensure the genre’s survival as a national cultural heritage.
In recent years, borrowed genres have controlled the music industry, with Ghana unable to market its musical brand to the rest of the country.
The veteran musician, speaking to GNA Entertainment on the sidelines of the inauguration of the “Highlife is Alive Fan Club,” expressed concern regarding the declining fortunes of highlife, which he believes reflects Ghana’s cultural heritage.
“Every nation wishes to preserve its cultural heritage in order to limit the impact of other cultures.” Many countries have funded systems such as scholarships for musicians and filmmakers who wish to work in their own communities.
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“These are the kinds of stuff I’d like the government to do to protect talented and upcoming artists from being enticed to pursue other genres,” he said.
Mr. Bessa went on to state that arrangements have been set in motion to benefit aspiring artists, and that he thinks the package would be a game-changer for the resurgence of Highlife music.
“We have also begun focusing on getting funding for young musicians who wish to pursue a career in highlife music, but it is critical that we continue to press the government to make this support accessible as quickly as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, all highlife fans, artists, industry players, broadcasters, and media practitioners are invited to join the latest highlife is Alive Fan Club, which is dedicated to the promotion, growth, and preservation of the highlife genre.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
