Appietus: It will be challenging to compete with Nigerians in the Afrobeats market
Ghanaian musicians are being urged by renowned sound engineer and music producer Appietus to give up on trying to compete with Nigerians in the Afrobeats genre, as the latter have gained immense international acclaim for their work.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
When Afrobeats musicians are discussed globally, names like Temz, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Asake, and other Nigerian musicians would quickly come to mind.
Given that Nigerian musicians have seized the top ranks on the worldwide list of fans' favorite Afrobeats musicians, it will undoubtedly be challenging for a Ghanaian singer to reach that position.
This is the reason Ghanaian musicians are being urged by Appietus, a fervent supporter of highlife, to remain true to their own musical styles.
Appietus, a renowned Ghanaian artist who has collaborated with the best of the best, recently spoke on a panel on Graphic Showbiz X Dialogue and advised the latter not to imitate the Afrobeats genre, which he claimed was mostly connected to Nigeria.
Additionally, he issued a warning against fusing Afrobeats with other genres like Amapiano because doing so might dilute the uniqueness and authenticity of Ghanaian musicians.
"There is nothing we can do about the fact that Afrobeats is now owned by Nigerians. If we continue in that manner, we shall only become imitations. It will be challenging to compete on Afrobeats with Nigerians. It's similar to how dancehall and reggae are indigenous to Jamaica.
Additionally, I've noticed that attempts to pass off Amapiano and Afrobeats as Ghanaian music have failed recently. If we continue to create that combination, we will only be imitations. Let's update Highlife to our liking, showcase it to the public, and watch what transpires.
"Let's quit battling with one other over our preferred musical genres and instead sell our culture and selves. Nigerians were nowhere near what we had sold previously for our genre of music. Thus, we may repeat the process," Appietus said.
Media consultant Francis Doku participated in the most recent Graphic Showbiz X Dialogue series as a panelist.
On the subject of "#PlayGhana Initiative: Is it a Deserving Cause? Proponents of the #PlayGhana campaign and important partners were also asked by the former general manager of 3 Group to desist from imposing the program as a regulated policy on Ghanaians.
Rather, he recommends using moral argument to win over Ghanaians.
