With some artistes stretching the sonic and aesthetic boundaries of African music through alternative sounds popularly known as “Alte music,” Ghanaian singer Amaarae has cast doubts on whether the wider Ghanaian audience will ever fully embrace the genre.
Speaking on the ‘Stay By Plan’ podcast, which went live on January 9, 2026, Amaarae was asked if she thinks Ghanaians have connected with her kind of sound. She acknowledged that while people respect the effort, the mainstream audience may not be ready for it.
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The global sensation noted that, personally, she has a niche audience that loves her work whenever she releases a project and shows up in full support whenever she is in town.
However, she expressed skepticism about the wider mainstream audience is fully embracing “Alte” music.
“I think that they can definitely respect the effort and respect the drive. I think that I have a really cool niche audience that definitely I know loves what I do. And that’s a community that I see come out in their numbers anytime I’m in the city or anytime I drop something. As far as the wider mainstream, I don’t think they are ready to be honest. I don’t think they are. I don’t know if they will ever be ready,” she said.
Amaarae went further to argue that many talented artistes are giving up on the “Alte” sound, opting to go more local and mainstream because they feel the audience will not accept them if they stay true to the genre.
She also mentioned that limited resources make it difficult for some artistes to export their work internationally, which she finds disappointing as it contributes to the “Alte” scene losing momentum.
Meanwhile, on January 6, 2026, Amaarae hosted her long-awaited Blackout Concert at the Underbridge Annex, where her niche audience turned up in full force to support and party with her.
The event brought together a community of music lovers and creative enthusiasts, all dressed in black, enjoying curated DJ sets by iMullar and energetic performances by Amaarae.
There were guest appearances from Sarkodie, Gyakie, Free The Youth, and the Asaakaa Boys who left fans with unforgettable memories and joy.
Watch the video below:
AK/EB
