Legendary musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has expressed his frustration over what he perceives as a significant “disconnect” between the older and younger generations of musicians in Ghana, a situation he believes is stalling the progress of the country’s music industry.

During an interview with Joy Prime, Ambolley highlighted that the new generation of musicians tends to disregard the valuable lessons and experiences of their predecessors, leading to a widening knowledge gap within the industry.

“One thing I’m sorry about is that there’s a gap between the older and younger musicians,” Ambolley lamented.

He partially attributed this issue to the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), criticizing the organization for failing to organize educational events and forums that could facilitate knowledge-sharing among musicians and industry players.

Ambolley proposed the introduction of seminars and workshops as a way to bridge this generational gap, enabling older musicians to pass down their expertise to the younger ones.

“We need a platform where we can hold seminars, workshops, and similar events to share ideas. The younger musicians are the future, but they need knowledge. MUSIGA should take the lead in organizing these initiatives, bringing together both the old and young, because it’s our union,” he emphasized.

The veteran musician also voiced concerns about the younger generation’s tendency to adopt foreign musical styles, which he believes stems from inadequate facilities and a lack of exposure to Ghana’s original music genres.

“The younger ones don’t see the light. So, when they get their computers and hear music from Europe and other places, they start experimenting with it,” Ambolley observed.

He urged industry stakeholders to reconsider their approach and work towards projecting Ghana’s unique sound to the global stage.