Filmmaker and content creator Jeffery Nortey has sparked a conversation about what he sees as a troubling trend in Ghana’s entertainment landscape, particularly within the skit-making industry.
Speaking on a GhanaWeb’s X Space discussion, he contended that many Ghanaians only show support for content creators out of pity, a phenomenon he refers to as liking content “from the angle of poverty.”
According to Nortey, this dynamic creates a bizarre environment where the audience’s engagement is tied not to the quality of the content itself, but to the creator’s perceived financial hardship.
“A lot of people like to watch from the angle of poverty. There is this pitness in it, so they like to watch your content more,” he explained.
This mindset leads to an influx of support for creators who appear to be struggling, as the audience feels a sense of contribution to their success.
Nortey shared a personal anecdote, noting that he has met people who explicitly told him they are the ones “giving me money on YouTube,” underscoring the audience’s belief that their views are an act of charity rather than appreciation for creative work.
The most challenging aspect of this trend, Nortey argued, is how it punishes success.
“Immediately, to make them know you have made it, they will be like they don’t want to watch your content, so you get money,” he said.
This shift in audience behavior means that once a creator achieves financial stability, the very fanbase that supported them begins to lose interest.
This creates a disincentive for creators to share their achievements, forcing them to remain silent about their financial progress for fear of alienating their audience.
Nortey believes this behavior makes it incredibly difficult for individuals in the comedy industry to be open about their successes.
