Legendary Ghanaian Highlife musician, Gyedu‑Blay Ambolley, has raised concerns about the growing trend of Ghanaian artists branding themselves as kings or queens of music genres that originate from other countries.

Speaking in an interview with NYA The Brand on Sunshine with NYA, which airs on Accra -based CTV every Sunday at 8 pm, the veteran musician argued that while musical exchange across borders is healthy and has always influenced African music, Ghanaian artists must be careful not to lose their cultural identity by prioritising foreign genres over indigenous sounds such as Highlife.

Over the years, some Ghanaian artists have become closely associated with genres that originate from other countries. Dancehall artist, Shatta Wale, for instance, has famously described himself as the “Dancehall King,” even though Dancehall emerged from Jamaica.

Similarly,  artists like Stonebwoy have built careers largely within reggae and dancehall traditions that trace their roots to the Caribbean.

“Sometimes I hear most of the younger artists, some will say that    ‘I’m a Dancehall King’ , some say ‘I’m a Reggae [King]’, and things like that…But how can you be a king if you are copying the music, because the music is coming from Jamaica?” he asserted.

Ambolley added that while Ghanaian musicians can perform and experiment with global genres, claiming kingship over them can unintentionally diminish Ghana’s own musical heritage.

He explained that his stance is solely driven by the need to preserve and project Highlife, Ghana’s most influential indigenous music genre, which has shaped the country’s musical identity for decades and inspired many modern African sounds.

Ambolley, however, suggested that a Ghanaian artist could adopt a foreign music genre and infuse it with elements of Highlife, thereby giving it a distinctive Ghanaian identity rather than projecting it purely as a foreign sound.

“When people from South America hear any popular music, they play it in the Salsa formation.

So it means that it is an extension of the earlier composition and not a direct replica”, he added.

He stated that he would not collaborate with artists who primarily project another country’s musical culture, emphasising that his artistic mission is to champion Ghanaian identity through music.

However, he expressed admiration for Ghanaian singer/songwriter, Kofi Kinaata, noting that Kinaata’s music reflects strong Highlife influences and Ghanaian storytelling traditions.

Ambolley’s comments add to ongoing conversations about cultural ownership, identity and the future of Highlife in Ghana’s rapidly evolving music industry.

Sunshine with NYA, hosted by NYA The Brand, serves as a platform spotlighting influential voices in music, culture and creativity, offering audiences insight into the journeys and perspectives of personalities shaping Ghana’s cultural landscape.