Daddy Bosco: Stop ‘uncouth and uncalled for’ remarks against Dancehall music

BOARD Member of Ghana Reggae Dancehall Awards, Daddy Bosco, has debunked recent remarks made by Highlife musician Adangba over Dancehall breeding hooliganism among the youth of Ghana.

Daddy Bosco, together with several key stakeholders in the Reggae/Dancehall fraternity, has strongly pushed back against these claims, describing them as misinformed and detrimental to the growth of the genre.

Although he acknowledged there might be a few bad actors within the Dancehall space, Bosco insisted they did not represent the values or core message of the genre.

In an interview published earlier in Graphic Showbiz, Adangba argued that the lyrical content and overall vibe of the music style promoted a culture of rebellion and violence.

Citing the clash between Ghanaian Dancehall artistes Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale at the 2019 Ghana Music Awards, he argued the genre’s culture imported from Jamaica was influencing the local youth negatively.

However, in a chat with Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Bosco said: “Those who claim Dancehall music fosters hooliganism are often not well-informed about the genre's true nature.

 A more nuanced and informed perspective reveals that Dancehall music frequently advocates social justice, addressing the struggles and experiences of marginalised communities. 

If we take the time to truly understand the ethos of the genre, we would recognise its cultural and social significance rather than hastily condemning it.

“It is important to avoid generalising based on the actions of a few individuals within the Dancehall scene. While some may stray from the positive messages that Dancehall often promotes, this is not unique to the genre. Every music style has individuals whose behaviours do not reflect the overall values or spirit of the music.”

“Yet, when such incidents occur in other genres, we do not immediately label the entire genre in a negative light. This tendency to label Dancehall as inherently problematic is not only misguided but also diminishes the powerful, socially conscious messages that much of the music delivers”, he added.

Reggae Dancehall musician Ras Kuuku shares similar sentiments with Daddy Bosco and called for an end to the constant denigration of Dancehall, as he believes it is a genre that promotes and preaches peace.