My Take On The 2015 VGMA: How ‘Iic’ We Have Become As A Society.

For  most of the  nights that  I have craved for light since the grappling mystery of Dumsor’ in the country begun, I have been motivated, largely, by the quest to power my fan to ward off the discomfort the heat in my single room usually generates in this period of the day.

But, in the evening of April 11, 2015, I had additional reason to pray for lights in the evening, having enjoyed the luxury throughout the day. On this particular date my quest for light was unbridling, to say the least.

For the kind of energy quagmire we have had to live and psyche our minds for, I knew I could either win or lose out on my unrestrained want for power, not political but electrical .This plunged me into a precarious state, exacting its toll on the serenity of my day.

At 7:30 in the evening uncertainty gave room to hope and optimism as the lights were still on. Indeed, my hope of watching the 2015 edition of the arguably, the most publicized awards event in the country, the Ghana Music Awards, received a life line.

But all wasn’t rosy, the thunderous warning of pluvial clouds, accompanied by whelming winds had taken the better part of my TV pole. I had to twist and turn my internal antenna for hours before I could receive visuals that were good enough   for the kind of assessment and details that I wanted to make out.

I watched the red carpets with awe, the flamboyance that was on display in the night. I cannot, however, denied that fact that most of the celebrities had dressed to kill. 

But for the fact that most of the designs our celebrities wore were foreign brands, a development which I though was counter-productive to efforts at revving up patronage for locally manufactured goods, the dressing and the swag was on point. Except for Funny face who wore his ‘Mother’, many who rocked the red carpet: even the Minister of Tourism was in foreign design.

Now on the event proper.

Monitoring the events on Twitter, I knew my reservations regarding the timing, lighting and some performances, among hosts of other protracted challenges were shared by many on the platform. I know as characteristic of the Ghanaian media, this event will not pass without being subjected to the strictest reviews and standardized tests. To this extent, I want to leave the raving reviews in the competent hand of the media. 

Generally, however, I was impressed with a lot of things. The fact that our gallant and hardworking musicians were being recognized on the night was enough for me to commend Vodafone and Charterhouse, as well other media partner who have over the years made this possible.

My purpose for this piece is not to rehash some of recurrent challenges that usually characterizes the Ghana music awards, I write to share an observation which I think is alien to the kind of socio-cultural orientation that is expected of the African, particularly Ghanaians.

Specifically, my qualms is with some of the award presenters on the night. For event that is designed to recognize musicians and other key players in the Microphone fraternity, I had so much difficulty in accepting attempts by some of these presenters to project themselves even above those who were due recognition-Those they were to present awards to.

Most of these presenters nearly pesked me off with narrations of how they have supported the music industry, how they have supported other artists and how they have been the voice of artists. Others wanted to flaunt what they wore while some sought to show how eloquent they were in the queen’s language. For others, this was an opportunity to declare their political future.

 I find this highly opportunistic and counter-productive to the purpose of the event. In any case, was the opportunity to present intended to afford these presenters an opportunity to read their credentials or to reward well deserving and hardworking musicians?

The word ‘I’, was abused on the occasion. Attempts by some of these presenters to call attention to themselves, nearly marred the events, sparking grumbles and murmurs from some attendees.

I could have just criticized it as many pundits usually do. But I know doing that will expose my narrow mindedness in assessing issues of societal concern.

In order not to run this risk, I have decided to evaluate the issue within a wider social scope as what transpired on the stage could only be a miniature of what happens in the larger society.

Our Society Today

Viewed within a  broader societal outlook, I am inclined to believe that the Ghanaian society today has become ‘Iic’.From our work places to churches. Political party offices to Lecture halls, people want to be seen and be projected above everyone. Claiming, on some occasions, credits they are never due.

I don’t know when we started being overtly individualistic as Africans and Ghanaians, in particular. But I have no doubt that, in time past, our societies have been communal, largely. Our tales and music are inundated with evidence in this respect. Some of our proverbs also speak volumes to the kind of socio-economic and cultural orientation that placed premium on communal living.

I have had to read Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things fall apart’ on two different occasions. While the first instance was for personal reasons, my second date with this wisdom-ridden book was for academic purposes.

In all two occasions, a quote which gives a succinct and vivid account of how communal the African societies were, intrigued me so much. Below is the quote:

‘‘We do not ask for wealth because he that has health and children will also have wealth. We do not pray to have money but to have more kinsmen. We are better than animals because we have kinsmen. An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsman to scratch him’’.-Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

Although, Individualism of the African is justified given the changing scenes of modernization and urbanization, it seems to me that we have ones again abused it, hence making it indefensible. Our attempt to be individualist, given the changes in the socio-cultural structures in our world today, has degenerated into undue greediness and selfishness.

As a society we are too occupied with the interest of ourselves, friends and cronies to the neglect of the collective good. Even in families, members have become extremely individualistic, shielding others from getting closer.

This same attitudes are usually translated into public office. Nepotism and favoritism toward families and cronies have largely been on account of how individualistic we have become.

Causes

Our formal educational system which should help us inculcate the spirit of Team work has itself been a key culprit and a contributor to the rather unfortunate phenomenon. Indubitably, our educational system imbibe in us a competitive mindset. In our Lecture rooms, in fact, in the educational ritual of examinations, Students are pitted against each other. 

Our educational system forces us to think as though one success or otherwise depended on the fortune or misfortune of the other. Perhaps, this is how come our educational system has almost failed to produce the kind of human capital, capable of providing solutions to nagging societal problems. Isn’t it about time we find ways of restructuring our educational system and make it more responsive to the tenets of Team work?

The family cannot be absolved of culpability. As the first agency of socialization the family is required to imbibe in people this time-tested virtue of communal mindedness. The failure of our family to live up to the tenets of communal living is largely what has accounted for the menace I am bemoaning. Isn’t it high time the family rose its role of helping to inculcate the spirit of Team work in their wards?

What about the work environment? How does it contribute to the kind of social aberration that I am strongly lamenting in this piece: It is true that industries have become highly competitive? As unemployment continues unabated in our part of the world, extreme individualism which usually leads to greed appears to be the order in our work places. In the usual work environment, people don’t sincerely want to share or render credits, where it is due. 

In my few months in the work set up, I have seen people who are very ‘Iic’ in their approach to work. For most of these people their stock in trade is to either hide behind others achievement or to sideline others by assuming responsibilities that they are usually not cut for. Isn’t it about time industries paid attention to and reward Team work rather than the prevailing system that rewards solo efforts?

Conclusion

The African in time past never rewarded individualism. Collective efforts was highly lauded. Society’s strength lied in its ability to mobilize and harness the energies of its individuals and not how individuals could demonstrate Greed and social decadence was therefore minimal as people knew how their actions and inactions affected the society. Collective Conscience, Émile Durkheim, terms it. 

 Today, we have become ‘Iic’-greedy, individualistic and self-seeking. We want to exploit and cash in on every opportunity, even at the expense of social order and the interest of others.

I have on this occasion laid the blame squarely on our educational system, family and work environment with the optimism that the situation can be addressed if these institutions can change their model for rewarding and reinforcing behaviors.

Let’s go back to our roots.

The cost of individualism will be expensive to foot.

Samuel Osarfo Boateng.

samuelcreasta@gmail.com(0270644157)

Public Relations/Communication and Research.