Afro-Reggae musician Bongofari, from Ghana, has advocated for efficient networking among musicians in West Africa to support the sub-region’s music industry.
Addressing a segment of the press upon his arrival back from Lome, Togo, where he participated in the inaugural Afro Music Reggae Arts Heritage & Cultural Festival (IARMA-FEST) set for March 2024, Bongofari asserted that networking is a crucial means of establishing new contacts and seizing business and performance opportunities within the music industry.
On December 1, 2023, the launch took place at Lome’s Only One Beach. Artists from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria were present.
“We talked about our careers and how to move forward with what we do. In this music business, just like any other business, it is not only what you know but also who you know. Any sort of connection is useful,” Bongofari stated.
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He refers to his sound as Odo Reggae, which combines reggae vibes with traditional Ghanaian rhythms and Highlife. He sang at the IARMA-FEST 2024 launch, performing songs from his repertoire in English, Twi, and French. The event organizers presented him with a plaque in recognition of his groundbreaking reggae style.
Elijah Amekudzi founded IARMA-FEST 2024, which is intended to bring together reggae performers from Togo, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d’Ivoire. The event is organized in partnership with Pan Africa-Ghana and Peace Forever Live Music Club.
IARMA-FEST 2024 is scheduled to feature sessions on music business, creativity, and networking through international music agencies. A particular emphasis will be on the ways in which artists, in this digital age, can profit from their merchandise.
“So what is coming up in March next year will be a sort of ECOWAS music summit. Music making has always been a collaborative process. More opportunities can come your way depending on the number of people you know,” the Odo Reggae man said. “It is always good to meet people who can help you make great music or generally help you further your career,”
Before opting to pursue performance as a career full-time, Bongofari worked as a music recording engineer. On September 17, 2023, at LaBoma Beach in Accra, he was recognized for his “outstanding contributions to Reggae and Dancehall and to the music industry in Ghana today” at the Ghana Reggae Dancehall Awards (GRDA).
