By Rachel Kakraba
His rendition of music is enjoyed by many for its originality and promotion of indigenous Ghanaian music. As the lyrics suggest that “in heaven, there is no beer”, the song could easily be interpreted as promoting alcoholism. However, in an interesting twist, the composer Atongo Zimba, clarifies that his song “No Beer” is to draw attention to the need for people to have a limit in everything, especially with regard to excessive intake of alcohol. He said he finds it gratifying to have hit the limelight through this song.
As Ghana observes Heritage month GBC news throws the spotlight on Atongo Zimba, who says he always knew he would be a musician. Atongo reminisced his school days as super exciting. He loves Sixth March because it provided him the platform to showcase his innate passion and talent. Atongo Zimba joined Kafui Dey on the GTV Breakfast Show on Friday, 25th February 2022.
“I will be going to class and I will even be singing while I am going. Like in school on the sixth of March that is my exciting time, and if you ask my classmates they will tell you when they are learning me I start to hit, I choose to make rhythms with my table”, he said.
He opened up on the premonition of his grandfather and how he came by his first musical instrument the Kologo, to make music.
“When I went home to my grandfather then he built me a small instrument. He said to my father, this guy has to play the instrument, that’s why he is doing that. ”When I started playing Kologo I stopped school because Kologo was taking me everywhere”.
The broad smile on his face while performing the traditional musical instrument “Kologo” is enough conviction that he enjoys his trade. For the love and enthusiasm towards his music, Atongo has travelled the world over. He has also collaborated with quite a number of musicians. No Beer shot him to fame, and he says he was criticised over the perception that the song promotes alcoholism.
“When I created it I had my tight friend. He was a Pilot and that time they used to like my songs so they would call me and sit down and we would be drinking a lot of beer. I say no! the road that I dey cross, I dey see two two, so when I reach home and the next day I went back to them and I start singing that song, that there’s no beer in heaven, so it means don’t over drink and die, so don’t give me too much of drink so I can die. That’s why I say hey! Hey!Hey!Hey!Hey!
The “No Beer” hitmaker is not happy about the lack of support for traditional music, especially when it comes to airplay.
“The airplay is very very bad. We play Western music more than our own music. Just go here to Mali, you will never hear the radio play this kind of rubbish”, he lamented.
Atongo Zimba, maybe a musician but certainly he is worried about the current situation in Ukraine of the Russian invasion. For him, some sanctions ought to be imposed on Russia.
“This man you cannot fight him with weapons, so they have to side him with sanctions, like some rules if they block all the money that he’s getting to get that power, they will stop”.
All work and no play they say makes Jack a dull boy, yet, Atongo says even in the face of fun, people should always exercise some restraints, especially in the intake of alcohol. He said respect takes people to places and encourages people especially the youth to be humble, respectful and avoid tendencies of jealousy.
