Northern-Ghana-based female musicians, Abbi Ima and Alapta Wan have revealed that some Northerners still hold the perception that a woman’s place is the kitchen.

In an interview with Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz, Abbi Ima said some people have even discouraged her from pursuing music due to the number of years it takes for some musicians to find their breakthrough.

She also disclosed that others told her that doing music is not meant for women.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hitz 103.9 FM (@hitz1039fm)

“You get people telling you that music is something that will take long for you to make it… Some of them will even tell you music is for men,” she recalled.

In support of Abbi Ima’s remark, Alapta Wan added: “They want us to stay in the kitchen. They claim that’s where we belong.”

She continued: “But we have a voice —and we want to change the narrative,” she said on Hitz FM.

Alapta Wan further touched on using music to address societal issues – like teenage pregnancy – especially when it became prevalent in the Northern Region sometime back.

Her song – Poore – addresses the effects of teenage pregnancy on the girl child.

According to Alapta Wan, the song gained traction in the Northern Region, which eventually contributed to curbing the rise of teenage pregnancy in the region.

Alapta Wan noted that she wouldn’t have been able to address such pertinent issues, and made an impact if she was always in the kitchen.

The Baaya singer added that the “a woman’s place is in the kitchen” narrative has shattered the dreams of many young women who aspire to pursue a higher level of education, get a decent job or use their talents to make a living.

Notwithstanding, Abbi Ima and Alapta Wan say they are poised on changing the narrative and gradually wiping off the stereotypes that plague the Northern sector of Ghana, preventing women from achieving their goals.