Let music hibernate so we focus on other art forms – Chief Moomen

Ghanaian playwright and poet, Chief Moomen, has suggested that lesser-known arts in Ghana should be given more attention.

According to him, if music is not giving the culture industry the desired global recognition, it is about time resources were channeled into growing other fields of arts.

“Internationally, the Nigerians are gaining the limelight so the little energies that we have for being intentional, let’s use that to support other industries and allow music to, as it were, hibernate for a while.

We have had glorious years from the days of palm wine music to highlife music, to the Kojo Antwi’s to Osibisa’s to Daddy Lumba, music has done fine,” he said.

In an interview he noted that there are many non-music creatives who are making Ghana proud on the international front.

“We have the likes of Ibrahim Mahama who is doing great exhibitions around the world, on his own accord has built a contemporary arts gallery in Tamale. We have Sage Atokwei Clottey, Amoako Boafo and the like,” he said.

He added that there is a whole resurgence of fine arts and literary arts in Ghana.

“In terms of that aspect of the creative industry, there is a lot of viability and there are a lot of things happening in that industry,” he indicated.

“Let’s take the literary arts. We have some of the greatest writers. The late Professor Ama Ata-Aidoo who recently passed was one of the great voices on the international scene,” he further noted.

He also mentioned Professor Kofi Anyidoho and Professor Sutherland Addy.

Chief Moomen was part of the panel on Showbiz A-Z that discussed ways to make Ghanaian arts more visible on the international scene.