Ghanaian rapper and singer, Desmond Kwesi Blackmore, known as D-Black, has pointed out that the success disparity between Nigerian and Ghanaian artists can be attributed to their differing approaches to business. According to him, Nigerian artists are driven by a business mindset, while their Ghanaian counterparts create music purely out of a love for the art.
In a recent episode of The Afrobeats Podcast, D-Black expressed his perspective, stating, “The reason Nigerian records outperform Ghanaian ones is because Ghanaian artists are not particularly focused on the financial aspect. They don’t prioritize the business side; it’s primarily driven by a love for the art, overshadowing any business strategy.”
D-Black illustrated this point with his personal experience, highlighting that despite receiving accolades such as a BET nomination, financial success was elusive. However, upon transitioning to a more commercial focus, especially within the Afrobeats genre, he achieved financial milestones such as purchasing a Ferrari and Range Rover and gaining widespread visibility.
He emphasized the need for artists and creatives to recognize that relying solely on music is insufficient for success. Instead, D-Black urged them to adopt a proactive approach, emphasizing the importance of business acumen, hard work, and leveraging social media for effective promotion of their craft.
