Ghanaian radio personality and music critic DJ Slim has expressed his views on Ghana’s attraction to international awards, stating that awards like the Grammys should not be framed as the ultimate achievement for Ghanaian artistes.
Speaking in an interview on 3Music TV on November 10, 2025, DJ Slim acknowledged that while the Grammys have a “massive global reach,” they are primarily designed for the US market and may therefore not fully reflect what success looks like for African or Ghanaian acts.
“To me, it is not the apex. It’s just that it has the reach. The Grammys is a music award designed for the US market, by people in the US market,” he remarked.
Why Ghanaian musicians aren’t winning Grammys – DJ Slim explains
He urged the Ghanaian music industry to shift focus to its own award systems, which understand and celebrate Ghanaian sound, identity, and culture, rather than placing external validation at the centre of success.
“Our awards should stamp our sound and our identity. You don’t need to hustle for validation elsewhere,” he emphasised.
He argued that Ghana’s absence from the 2025 Grammy nominations isn’t due to a lack of talent but rather a lack of visibility and connection to the systems that manage such awards.
DJ Slim cited songs like “Street Crown” by Shatta Wale and “Shake It To The Max” by Moliy as strong examples.
“It only tells us that our artistes and their sound are not visible in their market. It doesn’t mean they’re not talented,” Slim said.
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