Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician, Stella Aba Seal
Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Stella Aba Seal has expressed concern over what she describes as a rising culture of disregard for pioneers in the music industry.
She has revealed that many young artistes now use her songs without seeking permission.
According to a report by graphic.com.gh, the celebrated singer, while speaking on Onua Showtime, described the situation as both painful and disheartening.
“They don’t ask for permission before using my songs,” she lamented.
Stella Aba Seal said the issue reflects a broader cultural problem in Ghana, where appreciation for trailblazers is not deeply ingrained.
She noted that while some sports personalities occasionally receive honour and recognition, creatives in music, acting and boxing are often overlooked.
“In Ghana, honouring is not part of our culture. We don’t respect trailblazers and pathfinders. It happens rarely, unlike in sports where international footballers have built houses for communities and offered support,” she stated.
She added that veteran artistes are sometimes labelled as attention seekers when they attempt to correct younger colleagues.
“When you try to correct them for not relating properly to grown adults, they say you just want to trend, even when you are old enough to give birth to them, and they met you at the workplace,” she said.
Stella emphasised that older musicians built the foundation that today’s music industry stands on.
“We have done a lot of education on telling people to appreciate us after inviting us because we pay for our recordings ourselves,” she explained.
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Comparing Ghana’s entertainment industry to Nigeria’s, she praised Nigerian creatives for their culture of respecting elders.
“In Nigeria, young actors and musicians visit legends with gifts and receive blessings. In Ghana, it’s only Nana Ama McBrown that I have seen replicating that,” she noted.
She further expressed frustration with how younger artistes handle the use of veteran musicians’ works, revealing that some record covers without informing the originals’ owners, while others only make contact when they are ready to release.
“Sometimes, you only see that they have already done it without your permission,” she said.
Stella Aba Seal also cautioned that such behaviour has consequences governed by both spiritual and universal principles.
“There are laws governing this universe: spiritual laws, physical laws, and universal laws. If I don’t say anything, the laws in the air will deal with you. If I say ‘hmmmm’, the laws God has placed in the air will still work,” she warned.
Highlighting the principle of sowing and reaping, she added, “What you sow is what you will reap. Karmic laws work. It doesn’t matter how much you pray, speak in tongues, or apply grace; karma will catch up with you. If not today, then tomorrow.”
ID/EB
