Ghanaian Music Not Globally Recognised — Trigmatic
Ghanaian rapper and cultural music advocate Trigmatic has raised concerns about the global visibility of Ghanaian music, stating that the industry may not be as internationally recognised as many people believe.
Speaking in an interview, the artiste said his perspective changed after performing at Felabration in Nigeria, a major festival dedicated to the legacy of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
According to him, the experience was a turning point in his musical journey and reshaped how he views Ghana’s position in the global music industry.
Trigmatic recalled that during his performance at the festival, Yeni Kuti was impressed by his stage presence and extended his performance time beyond the originally scheduled slot.
“I was initially given a shorter performance time, but after watching the show, Yeni Kuti extended my set to about 30 minutes. That moment changed everything for me,” he said.
Despite the recognition he received at the event, the musician said the experience also revealed a deeper reality about the international reach of Ghanaian music.
“We are not as known as we think we are,” he admitted, explaining that the global perception of Ghana’s music industry may differ from how it is viewed locally.
According to him, Ghana once enjoyed strong global influence, particularly through the highlife genre, which shaped many musical traditions across West Africa.
He noted that many musicians across the continent still reference legendary highlife figures such as Gyedu-Blay Ambolley when discussing Ghana’s musical heritage.
However, he observed that fewer contemporary Ghanaian artistes are mentioned in international music conversations today.
Trigmatic stressed that the challenge is not a lack of talent but rather the need for stronger industry systems, better promotion and sustained international engagement.
“My travels and performances across several African countries have shown me that we need to keep promoting our authentic sound and strengthening our musical identity,” he said.
He added that greater collaboration and deliberate promotion of Ghanaian music globally could help restore the country’s strong influence on the African music scene.
