Help orient musicians on moral values

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 Feb 2000

Mr. Red Cap James, conductor/director of the National Symphonic Orchestra (NSO) on Friday stressed the importance of lyrics in music and advised young musicians to avoid abusive language in their compositions.

"Some of the albums produced by our young musicians are destroying the moral fibre of our society and it is dangerous to see our musicians go wayward artistically".

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr James said it is disheartening to see albums, which do not have sound words being patronised on the market.

Additionally, these albums fail to meet international requirements because they lack African instrumentation.

He attributed the low patronage of Ghanaian music internationally to the use of Euro-centric rhythms and said, "we must wage a war against this."

In South Africa most musicians who make use of African instruments are able to achieve heights on the international scene, he said, and described it as commendable.

Mr James said the NSO would soon embark on a number of programmes in Accra and Kumasi to enlighten the public on the values of African classical music.

For a start, the NSO would record a number of African gospel and highlife tunes on compact disc, which will be sold to the public.

"We hope to send some of our personnel to South Africa to tap its rich experience in this direction."

He appealed to benevolent organisations and individuals to support the NSO to train the youth especially, to enhance the image of African classical music.

GRi../