Daddy Bosco, a Board Member of Ghana Reggae Dancehall Awards, has expressed his displeasure about negative remarks made about dancehall music.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, he shot down claims by highlife musician Michael Adangba that dancehall causes hooliganism among the youth of Ghana.

“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," Bosco said.

Michael Adangba had earlier told Graphic Showbiz that the lyrical content of dancehall promoted a culture of rebellion and violence.

He indicated that the culture of dancehall which was imported from Jamaica is what caused the clash between Ghanaian Dancehall artistes Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale at the 2019 Ghana Music Awards.

Although Bosco admitted there could be some recalcitrant individuals in dancehall, he intimated that these people do not represent the value and core message of the genre.

“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,” he said.

The Head of Communication and Projects at the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) also mentioned that some of the pockets of misbehaviour that occur in the dancehall fraternity also obtain in other music genres.

“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.

The dancehall genre in Ghana has grown over the years, producing artistes such as Root Eye, Shatta Rako, Sonni Balli, Yoggi Doggi, Samini, Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Jupitar, Epixode, Ras Kuuku, Laruso, Iwan, and Kamelyeon.