Nigerian artists dominate Apple Music Ghana playlist

Darkovibes’ ‘Inna Song (Gin & Lime)’, Reefer Tym’s ‘Carry Go’, KiDi’s ‘Say Cheese’, Sarkodie’s ‘Anadwo’, King Promise's ‘Sisa’ and Kwesi Arthur’s ‘Turn on the Light’ all made the list. There were also entries from dancehall singers Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, as well as Vodafone Ghana Music Awards’ Artist of the Year Kuami Eugene.

The list also revealed a listening trend leaning toward Nigerian music. DJ Neptune, Fireboy DML, Davido, Mr Eazi, Wande Coal and Afro-fusion star Burna Boy are among the notable acts from Nigeria who appear on the list.

Speaking to Music In Africa, 3Music Awards CEO Sadiq Abdulai Abu attributed the dominance of Nigerian music to quality and production, which he said relied heavily on the on-trend sound, promotion and partnerships with Ghanaian industry players like media personalities, DJs and promoters.

Citing Davido, Abu said: “Nigerians place a lot more value on what these people offer than Ghanaian talents. They are willing to go the extra mile, including having to either pay for their services or enter some sort of value-for-value relationships to activate their music and brand in the market. They do this via a local team they build or people they reach out to advance their cause.”

“It’s not too surprising to find Ghanaians streaming Nigerian music,” broadcaster Ebenezer Nana Yaw Donkoh of the Kumasi-based YFM said. “These songs are big not just in Ghana but around the world, and Ghanaians follow what’s happening around the world.”

The two West African nations have enjoyed a fruitful musical relationship over the years, with artists from both countries regularly partnering on projects and sharing stages.

Recent big-name collaborations include Stonebwoy and Davido on ‘Activate’. In August 2018, Nigerian rapper Ice Prince, who recently visited Ghana to produce music with a number of his Ghanaian colleagues, underscored the importance of partnerships for both countries, “It's very, very important for us to come together as a continent. Africa is the future, but we just can only make that future actualise if we literally come together.”

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, local artists racked up 87% of the year’s biggest hits on Apple Music, with Burna Boy dominating the top 100 with an impressive 15 entries.

Stream Apple Music's playlist of the top 100 songs in Ghana of 2020 here.