M.anifest has dismissed the long-standing claim that Ghanaians do not appreciate rap music, insisting the genre has remained one of the country’s biggest musical forces for decades.
Asked whether Ghanaians truly support rap, the rapper responded without hesitation.
“Absolutely false,” he said on Woezor TV.
According to him, some of Ghana’s biggest artists over the past 25 years have either been rappers or musicians whose work is heavily influenced by rap.
“At any given year in Ghana for almost 25 years, half or more of the top people are rappers or rapper-adjacent.”
He pointed to newer generations of artists, including those blending rap with melody, saying many people fail to recognise that they are still consuming rap music.
“Think about the new generation. Because it’s melodic, you can’t hear that they’re rapping. Look at Asakaa and all these people. Ghanaians love them.”
Instead, M.anifest believes the real issue is whether local rap reflects Ghanaian identity.
“What people want to say is that Ghanaians don’t necessarily want to consume Ghanaian hip-hop that sounds like what’s from America.”
He explained that audiences often connect more with rappers who blend local sounds and Highlife influences into their music.
“Sometimes we want to see ourselves more in our people.”
For that reason, he believes the idea that Ghanaians dislike rap is simply inaccurate.
“Ghanaians don’t like rap? Oh, that’s a lie.”
