In an interview on Adom FM’s weekend Entertainment Hall show, Ghanaian highlife musician George Jahraa made a bold and controversial statement, declaring Mali as the true centre of African music.
While many Africans regard Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa as the top countries in the continent’s music scene, George Jahraa has a different perspective.
After relocating to Mali during Ghana’s coup era, he realized the country’s influence in the music industry, especially across francophone Africa.
According to him, any song that gains traction in Mali quickly becomes a hit because it spreads across francophone countries within 24 hours.
He further explained that his current presence in Ghana is only due to the recent coup in Mali, otherwise, he would be performing in Mali, with little interest in the Ghanaian music scene.
“If not for the Mali coup, I would not be here. That is the centre of African music. If you hit in Mali today, within 24 hours it will be in all the French-speaking countries,” Jahraa stated.
He also advised musicians to expand their horizons beyond Ghana to truly grow their craft. “We are just 35 million… there are over 7 billion people in the world. You don’t sit down and let 35 million limit your potential,” he told host Mike 2.