Preferred to be called a Professor of Kologo music, Professor Atamina, has noted with surprise that despite the efforts they are making in projecting the country internationally with their art, Ghanaians in their wisdom appreciate them with little arms or not at all.
He says what even beat his imagination is music lovers usually jam and shout with praises to imitators like Shatta Wale, Sarkodie and Co their music to the neglect of theirs.
They are imitators in the sense that their rap, lyrics and style of music are all learned, he said, they learned all that from the Western world.
Speaking to A1radioonline.com, Professor Atamina whose real name is Agong Atamina noted that the indigenous Kologo music is something that no one can imitate and become perfect.
He explained “Kologo is a spirit from every family or clan. Nobody can teach somebody how to play kologo. If you are not born with it, then forget it because you can never be perfect on it. When the spirit chooses you, then you can play kologo. My grandfather played kologo and his kologo is the God of our family now. And it has chosen me too.”
Stressing on his surprise, the legend said anytime he and other Kologo legends like King Ayinsoba and Ayuune Sule travelled outside of the country to perform, the crowd, chanting and praises by their fans are usually unbelievable yet in their own country such can not be seen.
He stated “The respect we get when we travel outside to perform our music is usually unbelievable. And I must say if any of these Artists here travel outside to perform like we normally do, they will not get even two-thirds of such a crowd like ours. How they get fans here in Ghana, if they travel outside they will not have many fans like that. Some of them who usually travel only perform to the Ghanaian communities there. The thing is, the foreigners do not jam to imitators, already they have their people who do same music like theirs and even better so why will they waste their time with them. But when it comes to our art, they usually confess to us that they have never seen something like that. Our Kologo is so unique and powerful that you usually wonder how. So, for us as entertainers to uphold the country image, I suggest we should begin thinking of our heritage, culture and how we can portray them internationally.”
Answering the question of whether he would like to collaborate with any of these musicians, the legend said that will be the way to improve and promote more of the rich culture of Ghana as the country is the destination of art and culture of Africa.
Professor Atamina is one of the protagonists of the new wave of Kologo music in the Upper East Region and lives in Bongo, a small village near the border of Burkino Faso.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
