'Abiba’ exposed Ghanaian hypocrisy on profane songs – Rex Omar

Rex Omar has revealed that his track ‘Abiba’ revealed the double standards among Ghanaians regarding their attitudes towards songs perceived to be profane.

According to him, Ghanaians publicly condemn songs laced with risqué lyrics but privately patronise such music, a phenomenon evident in the massive sales and airplay such songs command.

Speaking on Ayekoo Ayekoo on Accra100.5FM on Friday June 17, Rex Omar, born Rex Owusu Marfo, who has previously admitted regret for composing the song ‘Abiba’ on his Dangerous album – which generated significant controversy in the late ’90s for its lewdness, however disguised – said he had begun his career with Christian and philosophical compositions.

However, he disclosed that after returning from a trip abroad to promote one of his songs, which was struggling for airplay locally, he realised that Gyedu Blay Ambolley’s Simi Rapp – a famously raunchy song – had been a “hit”, an observation that caused him to tread that path.

“So I said if this is what you want I will give it to you. And, trust me, this song is one of my top hits,” he recalled to host Nana Romeo.

“…We the same Ghanaians complain the lyrics of songs of late are too vulgar and should be reduced. The question you ask yourself is: ‘Who are those who buy these songs? Who patronise these songs that are so bad?’ So, I did this song, clothing the lyrical content as much as possible, but under normal circumstances it is not my style…that is not my style of music. I did it purposely to prove a point that the same persons who complain they dislike it are the same who patronise it. We are being hypocritical…

“So…this country, we have an issue, we have a cultural issue that must be dealt with.”

Other songs composed by Rex Omar include Dada Di Da, Kele Ngele, Konka, Lady, Osisi, Tokota, Bimbo, and Dada.

He was a member of NAKOREX, which also included Amandzeba Nat Brew and Akosua Agyapong, in the ’90s, until later going solo.