Entertainment in most African countries differ a lot; often times, things that are meant only to entertain people are taken way too seriously. Let’s take the case of Ghana and Cameroon. In a country like Ghana, many fans understand the difference between comedy rap or rappers and gansta rap or what we call ‘intellectual/conscious’ rap or rappers.
These two types of rappers are not compared, neither are their impact or influence compared with each other as each has a role in its place. A rapper like Sarkodie has a role to play in the African entertainment industry just like Ay Poyoo has his role and both will draw attention to themselves for different reasons.
Let’s take a look at the Cameroonian context of things. Most Cameroonian fans think that “serious rappers” should be given a higher and more respectful place in the industry over comedy rappers. They seem to water-down the efforts of these comedy rappers just because many of the latter seem to be getting more international recognition than most “serious rappers”. However, very few ask what these comic rappers do to get that attention.
When attention like that of Show Yoh comes by, (which by the way doesn’t come everyday), it is likely that many of us would sound like “why are these type of people getting the attention that some of our favorite rappers or entertainers should be getting”? But before you go down that road, ask yourself how many of your favorite entertainers could go down that road of looking stupid or being ridiculed, just to entertain. How many of these artists can stand the kind of insults most of these guys get hit with just to entertain?
Ghanaian artist Ay Poyoo blew up last year with his “I’m the Goat” song which turned into a trend and went on to have attention from 50 Cent when he started calling 50 “my father”. That strategy worked for him with Ghanaians trending it until #50Cent replied to some of the comments on Instagram saying “I like this guy”. Ay Poyoo’s Facebook page which at the time had 10,000 followers now stands at 245,000 followers at the time of this write-up.
Show Yoh is the latest African to get 50’s attention after having a terrible tattoo of 50 Cent on his back. One thing is that the tattoo doesn’t look like 50 but 50’s name was tatted on his back which is how we knew the tattoo was meant to be 50 Cent.
Before we go on to ask why someone like Showyoh is getting this attention, make sure you ask yourself how many of your favorite artists or entertainers could go to that extent, just to gain attention. One thing with Show Yoh is that he gets the attention he wants. He did with Cameroon’s Presidents daughter, Brenda Biya, and many others.
We need to admit that the attention these guys receive doesn’t come overnight. They do way too much and a lot of things we consider ‘unnecessary’ just to get what they want.
Imagine living in an extremely hot and humid city like Douala located in Cameroon (in Central Africa) and having to wear oversized jackets and baggy pants Show Yoh always wears regardless of the weather? We understand that is his signature look and his brand, however, it must sometimes be an inconvenience just to keep that look.
Also, imagine always behaving like a “Goat” with chains around your neck like Ay Poyoo? What these two comedy rappers have to do to an example of the sacrifices they make to stay relevant and talked about which cannot be easy.
The aim of this write-up is for us to stop watering-down other people’s efforts and encourage the ones we think should get the better chances , to adopt some strategies that could give them the attention they crave for.
