National Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, has pushed back against claims that the BSE initiative sidelines certain artists when selecting performers for its events.
Rex Omar responded to a question from MC Portfolio regarding recent claims made by Stonebwoy.
The dancehall artiste recently stated in an interview that he feels excluded from national events, citing the launch of the Black Star Experience as a key example.
But addressing this, he said the Black Star Experience is not about politics or favoritism. According to him, the initiative is open to all artists.
“Black Star Experience has not had any issue with any artiste, none whatsoever. Black Star Experience has not had any issue with any artiste from any political divide because the Black Star Experience is a national initiative.”
Rex Omar
He explained that the initiative operates in the national interest and does not base its collaborations on partisan considerations.
Citing the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Black Star Experience and South Africa’s National Council of Art, the Presidential Staffer said the project involves platforms and organisers who have no political ties to them.
He mentioned that the focus was on representing Ghana collectively rather than advancing any political agenda.
“We are not playing politics and saying this artist is this, this artist is that. Tidal Rave, I don’t know the people behind it; it’s a private initiative, but when we went to South Africa and when we were talking, we believed that it was a good project, so we brought it on board.
“The people who are organising Ghanafest, they are not friends of ours, we don’t know their political colour, but because it is Ghana, we brought them on board. So we are not interested in partisan talk; we are interested in making sure that Ghana puts its best foot out there.”
Rex Omar
Rex Omar further stated that the Black Star Experience Secretariat has never turned down any artist who has expressed interest in participating.
He stated categorically that the office is open to all, and there has not been a single case of rejection based on politics or personal issues.
“Nobody has come to the Black Star Experience Secretariat to offer anything, and nobody has turned him down. The Secretariat is open to everybody, different kinds of people, from academia, from foreign countries. Stonebwoy has never spoken to me or come to the Secretariat and brought any proposal that anybody has turned him down.”
Rex Omar
Rex Omar Predicts Two-Year Black Star Impact
Following the launch of the Black Star Experience in May 2025 by the ruling NDC government, the renowned Highlife musician and Presidential Staffer in charge of the initiative provided an update on its progress.
He explained that his office, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority and other creative arts agencies, is actively working behind the scenes to bring the project to life.
He said Black Star Experience will take some years to yield results, “It will take us two years to see the impact of what we are doing because a lot of things are going to happen, which are in the planning,” he said.
He further noted that the National Commission on Culture is currently partnering with a private institution to stage the Black Star Festival in New York. “As I am talking to you, the National Commission on Culture is partnering with another entity, and they are going to have Black Star Festival in New York in September,” he added.
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