The saying that “Ghanaians don’t support their own” has obviously become a cliche, particularly among players in the creative industry.

However, veteran highlife singer, Rex Omar believes that the narrative should not be encouraged since there was bad nuts in every group who undermine the positive agenda of a larger group.

Speaking in an interview, he mentioned that even though he agrees that Ghanaian artists cannot have all-around support, the support of Ghanaians for creative talents has never been in doubt.

He said;

“I don’t agree with those who say Ghanaians don’t support their own, it is not true. Our artistes can’t have an all-round support but at least, Ghanaians support them, either craft, personality or anything they find interesting”.

Rex Omar

Rex Omar encouraged Ghanaian artistes to offer their best when they find themselves on any reputable global platform since such opportunities were rare.

He added saying;

“Before the period of digital and technical growth, it was just you, your craft and your country, but now, we live in what we like to call a global village. So use every platform you have to communicate your craft well so that the larger community can enjoy it and your culture as well”.
Rex Omar

The Abiba hitmaker also questioned the reason for which people call-out the creative skills of artistes.

According to Rex Omar, who is also the Board Chairman of Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), no one had the right to judge the works of artistes, particularly when such works positively projected the country on the international stage.

He argued that condemnation of creative works affected the confidence of creatives in putting forward their products, which was a bad score to the growth of the industry.

Don’t talk down on artistes’ creativity

For the past couple of weeks, Sarkodie’s feature on the late Bob Marley’s ‘Stir It Up’ has been a major highlight in conversations about the creative abilities of artistes.

With varied opinions on his delivery of the song taking center stage in the ongoing exchanges, veteran Highlife artiste, Rex Omar is not happy about the development.

Speaking in an interview, the Abiba hitmaker questioned the reason why people call-out the creative skills of artists.

“No one has the right to talk down on anyone’s creative prowess, especially when they make great strides and are putting Ghana’s entertainment industry on the global map.

“It is a very bad thing to do because these international collaborations offer our industry and the artistes many benefits like selling our culture to a bigger audience, increasing the revenue streams for our artistes and also widen the scope of their audience and so when we have people who deliberately talk down on these things knowing fully well the numerous benefits that come with, it becomes a worrying situation”.
Rex Omar

He added saying;

“Bob Marley is a global icon and for his estate managers to find Sarkodie worthy of this great move, I believe they have seen how big Sarkodie is and the impact his feature will have on a remake of that classic.

“If Sarkodie’s collaboration had been offered to an artiste in Nigeria, you will see how his fellow artistes will throw their weight behind him and celebrate him, but here in Ghana, we have colleague artistes talking down on this feat”.
Rex Omar