The Ghana-Nigeria Music Debate: Singer Lasmid's Claim

Ghanaian musician Lasmid has reignited the long-standing debate about the cross-border influence in West African music, claiming that Ghana has significantly influenced Nigerian hit songs.

In a recent interview, Lasmid, known for his track "Bad Boy," asserted that many Nigerian Afrobeats songs first gain significant traction and popularity in Ghana before finding widespread acceptance in Nigeria

Lasmid attributed this phenomenon to the deep affection Ghanaians have for Nigerian artists, stating, "We love Nigerians so much, even more than ourselves."

He argued that Nigerian songs often "blow in Ghana before it blows in Nigeria," suggesting Ghana acts as an initial, enthusiastic springboard for certain Afrobeats tracks.

To back up his claim, Lasmid specifically mentioned Spyro's hit song "Who's Your Guy," asserting that it was a huge success in Ghana long before it became a major hit back in Nigeria.

Lasmid's statement is not an entirely new position in the ongoing cultural discourse between the two West African music powerhouses.

A few years ago, Nigerian-born artist Mr Eazi faced backlash from Nigerian fans for a similar claim that Ghanaian sounds had significantly influenced the evolution of Nigerian music. The countries have a rich history of musical exchange, with Nigerian artists frequently drawing inspiration from Ghanaian genres like Highlife and Hiplife, and many successful collaborations bridging the gap.

Lasmid's claims now add a new dimension to this rivalry, shifting the focus from musical style influence to market acceptance and breaking a song into the mainstream.