When Ex Doe, one of the pioneers of the hiplife movement made his startling appearance in 1996 on one of the most popular Ewe hiplife song up to date, a collaboration with Chicago on the song titled ‘Davi mede kuku’, it appeared as if the moment of breakthrough and the undaunting challenge to Hip Hop has arrived.
Richard Kwasi Siaw Afrofi, aka Ex Doe, though an Akan become known more for his Ewe lyrics not only due to the song’s popularity but also, with a critical endorsement from music critics across the nation. Maybe perhaps, more remarkable of him is the willingness to wane from the spotlight.
On the Who-Is-Who segment of the Mid-Morning Affairs program of Mynd FM on Friday, July 2, 2021, hosted by DJ Ulby, the legendary rapper said, as long as the trajectory of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) is toward artiste popularity and not excellence, anyone regardless of the quality of their works is eligible and qualified to pick an award.
“When popularity decides, what can you do?” he quizzed. “Once the award is being awarded based on popularity even if the person doesn’t deserve the award, his fans will probably vote for him and definitely he [she] will win. But me personally, if they are going by excellence, I don’t think some of them even deserve some of the awards.” Ex Doe elucidated.
Mr Siaw Afrofi said “Imagine when a real popular song like Pataapa came the other day and they gave it to Fancy Gadam, because people voted for Fancy Gadam meanwhile [the song] ‘One Corner’ was the most popular song – that’s what VGMA is about, they go by popularity”.
Reacting to the conspiracy theory of money being used to change and swindle the rightful winners of the VGMA, Ex Doe made reference to some news item which sought to portray some artistes purchasing airtime for their fan base to vote in their favour in addition to other dealings that go behind the scene.
“You know that you don’t deserve it but because there’s money and they are dealing with votes when it comes to VGMA, definitely, via money you’ll win, you will have to buy your votes in, you have to buy credit for people to vote for you, you have to pay underground, pay the board.”
“When voting comes, money comes in and when money comes in, it goes by favoritism or who gets the money. If you have money, you will be worshipped in Ghana right now. Even if you come on TV and insult president and insult everybody, talk bad and talk dirty to Ghanaians” he added.
Meanwhile, Ex Doe also suggested that, organizers of the VGMA should pick up a lesson from the just ended ceremony and stick to hosting the event across two days where gospel artistes, DJs and other industry players are acknowledged and awarded on day one whiles the second day is devoted purely to secular artistes and performances.
Written by: Erich Odonkor