The annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs), which are put on by Charterhouse and promote musicians from Accra, worry Ghanaian Afropop singer-songwriter Wiyaala.
Wiyaala revealed during her appearance as a guest on The North Podcast with Prince Hamdan Banang that the VGMAs have criteria for selecting nominees that she feels disqualify her, which has caused her to stop submitting nominations.
According to her, Wiyaala, one of the important requirements for nomination is significant radio airplay in Accra, a requirement that is impossible for her given her language preference.
The singer, who sings in her native Sissala dialect, expressed her displeasure at the lack of appreciation for the diversity of Ghanaian music by the VGMA organizers.
She clarified that it is challenging for her to receive the radio play necessary to be considered for a nomination because of her distinctive musical style and accent. Wiyaala admitted that she was disappointed but that she does not have a problem with the VGMA organizers.
“In my heart, I believe VGMA is trying to get all of us involved. But let’s not tickle and make and make a fool of ourselves,” Wiyaala expressed candidly. “It’s very obvious and glaring what VGMA is all about. You have to be in Accra and your songs have to be popular in Accra. There are songs that were never popular in the North, but they made it, and the criteria keep changing. It’s their rules and regulations if you cannot follow them, you shouldn’t enter.”
Wiyaala, who is from the Upper West region and still lives there, emphasized the lack of intentional efforts to promote musicians from other areas, whose songs might not be well-known due to linguistic barriers.
The VGMA’s stated goal of honoring musicians from all over Ghana is contradicted by this omission, which places a strong emphasis on particular groups in particular regions of the nation.
“I can be as popular as any artist in the Northern region, but since the program is Accra-based and most of the radio stations are Accra-based, it’s only natural that they predominantly feature songs from Accra. Most DJs do not comprehend our songs, and many people are unwilling to understand them,” Wiyaala explained.
Nevertheless, the singer-songwriter has previously taken home VGMA honors for Songwriter of the Year and Best Female Vocal Performance.
As of this report, Charterhouse and the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards had not addressed these issues, and it is unclear if they will take any action to ensure that artists from all regions of the nation are fairly represented.
