Ghanaian actress Efia Odo has sparked controversy with her recent comments on The Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) on her Twitter account, now X.
She expressed her opinion that “the old men should leave it for the kids,” referring to the award for Artiste of the Year. Without explicitly naming anyone, she hinted at the dominance of certain veteran artists in the music industry and suggested that it might be time for a generational shift.
Efia Odo made a direct comparison between the commercial success of artists and their eligibility for the coveted Artiste of the Year award.
She cited the example of King Promise’s impressive numbers and suggested that artists who consistently draw crowds for stadium shows should be strong contenders for the award.
She said; ” I think it’s cuz Shatta and Sark have won it twice so that means he too wants it twice(I’ve not mentioned names ).
The old man should just leave it for the kids cuz it’s evident that numbers don’t lie. If you like let’s compare King Promise Numbers to others. If doing shows at the stadium is a yardstick like fancy Gadam Sef should win AOTY, SIMPLE .”
Her comments have stirred up a debate among music fans and industry insiders, with some agreeing that younger artists deserve a chance to shine, while others defend the legacy and contributions of the veteran artists.
Efia Odo’s remarks also allude to the success of artists like Shatta Wale and Sarkodie, who have each won the award multiple times, leading to speculation about the competitiveness and dynamics of the music industry.
The actress’s bold statements have certainly sparked conversations about the criteria for awarding top honors in the music industry, and whether it’s time to make way for the younger generation of artists. It remains to be seen how the industry and artists themselves will respond to Efia Odo’s thought-provoking comments.
Story by Obaapa Janee