Gyedu Blay Ambolley, a veteran highlife artist from Ghana, has called Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), a well-known broadcaster and the CEO of the Nineteen57 clothing line, a child and unworthy of his attention.
The Adwoa Amissah hitmaker recently said he has a lot going for him as a highlife musician and that people shouldn’t mock his efforts. He was speaking on DayBreak Hitz with Andy Dosty.
“I see Okyere Darko as a child. He is shallow-minded, the reason why he said those things.
“I am going on a European tour in May next year. My music is Gyedu Blay Ambollley’s music and in June, I will be back on tour. So when he sits and talks, can he take his clothes on tour as a designer like the way I’m going on tour with my music?
“Can he take his DJing on tour like the way I am going on tour with my music? If these people talk, you know they are shallow minds,” he said.
Ambolley’s statements are in response to KOD’s social media post from earlier this week, in which he called the respected musician’s claims that the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) has been a curse on Highlife music rubbish.
Ambolley stated that the VGMA had not boosted the interest in Highlife music by giving the top prizes to performers who were pursuing other genres in an interview with Graphic Showbiz last month.
The calibre of the performers up for the Best Highlife Artiste of the Year award was another issue he brought up.
“It is unfortunate that people think when you sing in Twi or Fante over a Dancehall or Reggae beats it automatically makes it Highlife music. That is not true but it has become the norm over the years because these are the kinds of music VGMA rewards,” he said during the interview.
An obviously disappointed KOD who didn’t take lightly Ambolley’s comments responded in social media post.
“Such nonsense!
Which awards scheme has projected our music industry like VGMA since independence? How many have projected our musicians beyond GH? How many have consistently done more than 10 years?
“Some of our musicians have failed to evolve and are quick to blame others for their personal mishaps. When was the last time he released an album? He should be blaming some of the radio “stations that don’t even play our music.
“When was the last time or how often do you hear highlife on the radio? VGMA cause am?
“People should look at evolving and projecting themselves instead of pointing accusing fingers.
“Ambulley should be bigger than this petty comment and should check how he discredits his fellow industry colleagues too. You’re a true celebrity. Don’t go this path, Sir.
“As one of our last of our greats left, this is below him”.