Kojo Antwi explains why music is a 'medicine'

Veteran highlife musician Kojo Antwi has described music as medicine, saying listeners to be wary of the kind of music they support, listen and give attention to.

The “Medofo Pa” hitmaker was speaking at a roundtable on the topic “Sustaining a distinctive Ghanaian Musical Identity in a Globalised Musical Mix” at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) when he made this statement.

He said music was medicine with a significant effect on the well-being of the people and advised the public not to fall for any type of music but go in for the music that comforts the soul, GNA reports.

Kojo cautioned: “The kind of music we download, the kind of music we play, the support and attention given to them help in sustaining that kind of music and they have effects on us. Music is medicine so be careful what you give attention to.”

With over three decades of music experience, he also expressed worry about the caliber and quality of music being produced in recent times saying, “most of our songs today have been reduced to singing about self and body.”

He said urgent and pragmatic steps were needed to change the narrative but advised Ghanaian and African musicians to compose songs that would impact their communities positively.

“For me, my focus on creating a piece of music does not an award but to impact my community. That is very important,” he stressed.

He implored all stakeholders to work towards preserving and sustaining the rich Ghanaian musical rhythms.

According to the “Music Man”, though the music was dynamic and changes over time, the basic principles and the rhythmic patterns of rich Ghanaian music must not be distorted just in the name of change.

Antwi further called for the re-introduction of music education into the educational curriculum at the basic schools to teach the young generation the indigenous Ghanaian music and folklore.