Ace music producer Appiah Dankwa, popularly known as Appietus, has shared his voice in the debate over the origin of the Afrobeats music genre.
“We hustled to build this thing. Some guy did some documentary and said, ‘Nigerians.’ They didn’t.”
His comment comes after a major debate on social media between Ghanaians and Nigerians about which country originated Afrobeats—the blend of West African and Black American music that has inspired throngs of contemporary acts worldwide with its unique rhythms and melodies.
But speaking in an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show, the Azonto Fiesta producer maintained that Ghana originated Afrobeats.
“Afrobeats was solely created from Ghana. Myself, Hammer, Jay Q, and Zapp Mallet were killing it. We formed the sound that they chanced on and used,” Appietus said on Wednesday, October 12.
Afrobeats was solely created from Ghana- Appietus pic.twitter.com/VzY553ZxvF
— Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (@thegbcghana) October 12, 2022
“My mum never took me seriously for years. I became big and received awards, but she never cared. She was saying ‘find a job’. I took my studio to my father’s house. Then one day, Daddy Lumba entered my studio and they were arguing, ‘it’s him, it’s not him’. They asked him, “Are you Daddy Lumba?’ and he said, ‘yes’. ‘What are you doing here?’ and he said, ‘I’m here to work with Appiah’. That day my mum did Omelette and the things my mum did, I was surprised.”
🗣️”I wasn’t told that I had been sacked.”
Popular sound engineer Appietus shares his breakthrough story #GTVBreakfast pic.twitter.com/seSVAsvULH
— Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (@thegbcghana) October 12, 2022
He added that the current artistes are going to reap the full benefit of music.
“I am very happy that music is getting this big and I know that the new generation is going to enjoy it very much. They will drive new cars and make a lot of money because of the way music is now structured; anyone can click on your music and you will make money.”