Stop associating 'weed' with Reggae musicians - Root Eye

THE Director for Reggae at the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Kwesi Nyarko Ofei known in showbiz as Root Eye has asked Ghanaians to stop associating marijuana or 'weed' as it is popularly known in Ghana with reggae musicians.

“I don’t get it when Ghanaians associate reggae musicians with weed. It is so wrong for anyone to think that reggae musicians are weed smokers. The perception out there is that once you are a reggae musician then you definitely smoke.

“I know a lot of world class reggae musicians who do not smoke. The likes of Black Prophet, Lucky Dube and so many great reggae musicians do not smoke. This is a Ghanaian mentality which should be wiped away quickly,” he told Showbiz in an interview recently.

Root Eye advised reggae musicians to erase that perception by spreading the word that reggae music is not associated with weed.

“It will start with the reggae musicians preaching the word and erase that notion of weed being associated with reggae musicians,” he said.

Talking about the challenges such a perception has brought the reggae fraternity, Root Eye said corporate bodies are not willing to sponsor reggae events.

“I mostly draw a good plan and meet corporate bodies for a reggae concert but they always decline due to such perception. Although it will take a while to erase this it is better we start now.

“Smoking is an individual choice and I want to sound a warning to these young musicians doing reggae music that the fact that you sing in that genre does not mean you should smoke weed,” he stated.

Root Eye added that reggae music is such a great genre which has been accepted worldwide and it is in the interest of Ghanaians to accept it.