The Ghanaian music industry is no stranger to controversies surrounding award shows, and the 2023 Ghana Music Awards powered by Vodafone is no exception.
The nominations for this year’s awards have sparked criticism within the industry, with many artistes and industry observers expressing their opinions on who they believe should have been included.
One of the songs that did not make the cut for the ‘Reggae Song of the Year’ category was Oh Obibini by Kweysi Swat.
This exclusion prompted an observer during a recent episode of the Takoradi-based Connect FM Entertainment Review Show with Ato Kwamina Otoo D’Gem to question why the song had been left out.
The CEO of Remedi Entertainment, Dan Lartey, shared his views on the show through a phone call, revealing that his research had included Oh Obibini in both the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and ‘Reggae Song of the Year’ categories.
Dan Lartey went on to add that Kweysi Swat Nyansa, the artiste behind the song, deserved to be nominated for ‘Songwriter of the Year’ every time he released a new song, calling him a fantastic artiste.
The Remedi Entertainment CEO’s assessment of Kweysi Swat’s talent is not unfounded.
Oh Obibini is a thought-provoking masterpiece that addresses the issue of how Black people are not using their capabilities to do better for themselves. This song, according to many, deserved a nomination for both the ‘Reggae Song of the Year’ and ‘Songwriter of the Year’ categories.
As is common with award shows, including the prestigious Grammys, criticisms are to be expected.
However, it is important to note that the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards have been a platform for recognizing and celebrating the immense talent within the Ghanaian music industry for many years, and it is a significant achievement for any artiste to be nominated for an award.