Nobody Respected Me When I Went Into Music; People Don’t Support The Industry In BA – Stephen Nyamekye

Chairman of the Election Committee of the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo branch of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Stephen Nyamekye, aka Barnabas, has revealed that one of the biggest challenges he faced when he went into music was getting respect in the industry.

He disclosed this while expressing concerns about the lack of recognition and appreciation for music in the region since many do not regard it as important.

In an interview with Newshuntermag.com’s Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku on Unlimited Chat with K.O.K. on Top City TV, Mr. Nyamekye recounted a disheartening experience when his musical endeavors were met with indifference.

“In Brong Ahafo, people don’t support music. They see it as a useless venture. Nobody respected me when I was in music. When I opened my studio, I invited all ministers and MPs, but nobody came, apart from Shamo Quaye. He was an Assembly Man, and he was the only one who showed up.

“When I opened the studio, there was nothing like that in Kumasi. There were a few of them in Accra but people left here [Brong Ahafo] to Accra or Kumasi to record, and only came back to me for help when they found faults with the work,” he said.

According to him, the challenges brought on financial constraints that eventually sent him out of business.

“I faced some of these challenges until at a point, I decided to sell the equipment in the studio because I was paying taxes, meanwhile, sometimes getting 10 songs to work on within a whole year was difficult. There was electricity to be paid, AC, and others. If I couldn’t make money, then I had to stop and so I did, and went into live band. We really have a big problem in Brong Ahafo when it comes to music,” he lamented.

Mr. Nyamekye further emphasized the urgent need for change within the music community in the region in order for the industry to thrive.

Watch the interview below: