Up close with Ekow Micah

Ekow Micah, like many of his compatriots in the musical world, has dreams of liberating Africa through his music. He moved from highlife to ‘root life’ and has been in the music industry for about 20 years.

His latest album ‘Liberate Africa”, has about eight tracks and is yet to be launched officially with help from an international recording company in Holland.

Ekow, in a chat with The Saturday Statesman said “the brainwave behind this album is about liberating Africa and letting people know that the tragedy of Africa keeps worsening each day. Even though most African countries have attained independence, it is a mickey mouse independence because we are not free. So we express our dissatisfaction through music.” Adding “Rastafarians in Ghana have the vision to do so many things but we have given that vision away.”

Speaking further, he said “every music should have a meaning, inspire, entice and strengthen an individual in the battlefields of life.”

He said Ghanaian music is not making waves in the international scene because most of the music are in local dialects which people do not understand.

Micah reiterated that, “Ghanaian music is full of moral corruption, this means that most of the lyrics are profane and the words do not have any positive impact on people, neither does it inspire them to do positive things in life.”

He urged upcoming musicians to be conscious of the kind of music they play, since music is not only a money making venture. Micah advised they try English songs so that it can compete with international songs.

He added “the music industry in Ghana can be workable if all musicians will be ready to come together and take up the pains as well as promote Ghana music world wide. What’s more, the good old musicians should not be forgotten because many music shows are coming up to train young artists. But the question is: are the old ones being appreciated?”

On personal life, Ekow said he had his early education at Premier International Preparatory and later attended a Music school. He has about ten albums to his credit. Some of his albums are Ashanti Reggae, Nasaye Wayefe, Masiwa Hemaa, Odo Kasa, 95 Cedis amongst others.

He is the executive producer of his latest album and acknowledged his sponsors, such as the Steel Pause Band from Jamaica and the Late Culture.

Ekow, who says he is proud to be a Rastafarian “believes his latest album will impact positively on every African. The beginning of everything is difficult but with punctuality, we will definitely get there” he concluded.