‘Takoradi is one way when it comes to supporting Artistes’ – Such an ungrateful statement

• Posted on June 1, 2020June 1, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

A WhatsApp conversation with an Artiste Manager this morning (Monday 1^St June, 2020) has provoked this piece. “I have plans of signing other Artistes in Taadi but I think the one way support makes me think twice when I try to make that move” this was his statement, paraphrased.

For clarity, names should be mentioned to make meaning of this Author’s assertion on the above headline. Anytime I hear someone mention that people of Sekondi-Takoradi are one way in support, mentioning Kofi Kinaata as the only Artiste who enjoys the sweetest support from the Oil City, I am tempted to call that an ungrateful statement.

In my 12 years’ experience in Showbiz being a panel member on Pluzz FM, Zylofon, Prime FMs all in Accra and Skyy Power FM, Connect FM, Melody FMs all in Takoradi, I can confidently mention that Sekondi-Takoradi is a leader when it comes to supporting their own – Artistes and talents. If I were a Disc Jockey or Radio Presenter, I would be very mad to hear anyone say that there is one way support in the Metropolis. As a Publisher of the leading online portal in the Region, I am expressing my grievances via this post.

From the DJs, Radio Presenters and Social Media users, there is an immeasurable dedication of airtime and posts whenever an Artiste from the region is about to release a song; even though there are others who would obviously get more mentions, plays and shares than others.

Skyy Power FM’s ‘Drive Jam’ with Nana Adwoa Arthur has a dedicated ‘4 Regional Songs’ segment on her show from Monday to Friday, other Entertainment Review programmes have ‘Aba fresh’ (new songs) that are reviewed every Saturday and as a policy, at least two songs from Artistes in the region are added to the reviews. Songs from well-known to not-so-known Artistes from the Region are reviewed EVERY SATURDAY!

Many radio stations open their doors to Artistes from the region and give them free airtime and interviews on their channels whenever they have new releases and projects worth media attention. Empire FM, Skyy Power FM, Westgold Radio, Spice FM, YFM, Connect FM, Beach FM, ROK FM, Goodnews FM are some of the stations that support talents in the region without charging them.

Skyy Power FM, Connect FM, YFM and other stations have ‘Countdown’ ranking of songs in Ghana that are enjoying massive airplay. For those who are privy to the behind-the-curtain sneak peeks, usually, the Presenters and DJs add some songs from the region to make up the list not because they are really making any significant impact but for them to enjoy some mentions.

DJ Berry for instance circulate on social media his promotional songs for the month which are all songs from Artistes from the region. For him, he sometimes intentionally takes out the known Artistes to allow concentration on the unsung ones.  

As the Public Relations Officer for Western Music Awards, I remember in one of my interviews on Zylofon FM, Sammy Flexx who was the host then, mentioned that he admires how Takoradi supports their own. He mentioned Donzy, Dada Hafco and other industry players who have special admiration for Takoradi for how they support Artistes from the region.

In my opinion, I think beyond music, the reasons why Kofi Kinaata magnets that special attention which is worthy of emulation is because of:

The impeccable human relations of Kofi Kinaata – One thing about Kofi Kinaata that makes him tower over his contemporaries is his impeccable human relations. There are somethings that most Artistes don’t pay attention to but such gestures win the hearts of people.

In almost 90% of pictures he’s taken with his fans, Kofi Kinaata takes the phone and makes sure the fan or person who wants the picture with him appear as a close friend or relation. In this age of social media where everyone wants to feel important and most captions are ‘chilling with …. ,’ postures in pictures confirms or denies one’s caption. If a picture with Kofi Kinaata is captioned ‘chilling with my hommie Kofi Kinaata’ and the posture shows a Kofi Kinaata with a mean mugging face and the distance between the person and him is far apart, it defeats the caption.

During the funeral of Derby’s (Popular Blogger) father, a JSS mate of mine took a picture with Kofi Kinaata where Kofi Kinaata took the phone and snapped the picture himself. She is an ardent fan but didn’t have personal relationship with Kofi Kinaata so I made that arrangement. Few hours later, on her Whats App status, she posted the picture with the caption “Anytime we meet, you make me laugh, oh Kofi.” For someone who made that arrangement for her, I was taken aback when I read her caption. The postures in the picture perfectly complemented the picture too. It became clear to me how such minute gesture have lasting impact.

The human relations further goes beyond picture taking to how he (Kofi Kinaata) personally calls known figures and his friends on their birthdays, show up for funerals, weddings and other social gathering. I have heard the CEO of Skyy Power FM, Hon. Wilson Arthur express profound gratitude to Kofi Kinaata for the phone calls he makes to him on his birthdays and also how he surprised Skyy Power FM with a song he composed for them when the station was celebrating its 20^th anniversary. Such endeavour will win you hearts!

Artiste-fan interaction – One thing that has won Kofi Kinaata admiration is how he interacts with his fans on social media. Anytime Manchester United, the football side Kinaata supports is playing, fans and his fellow Artistes mention him on social media and make sure he is teased when the team loses. His replies, always jovial and his comments about matches trend for days after the match. Many people screenshoot their interactions with him and post it on their Whats App statuses. Such endeavour will win you hearts!

Western Region in the history of music in Ghana is in an enviable position now to present more than one name nationally but until there is a shift from people blaming other Artistes’ predicaments on an unflinching support of one Artiste which has been consciously built, there would be little to be seen.

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter/Instagram