Confront social issues through your songs — Iwan urges colleagues

Ghanaian Reggae and dancehall artist, Abdul Razak Issahaku, widely known as Iwan, has recently urged his fellow musicians to tackle social issues through their songs.

The crooner, who is well known for his socially conscious lyrics and thought-provoking music, during an exclusive interview with Graphic Showbiz raised the issue of many musicians shying away from confronting sensitive social issues due to the fear of losing their fans, thereby diluting the potential impact of their music on societal issues.

The ‘Who’s Bad’ hitmaker believes that artists possess a unique platform to address societal challenges and bring about awareness. His call to action is to encourage his colleagues to utilize their influence to shed light on issues such as poverty, inequality, and injustice.

“Most of our artistes are afraid to talk about issues like homosexuality that have become hot topics in our society. I will always speak about it because that is what our songs are supposed to do. Let us be bold and address these issues, as our songs are meant to help correct societal ills”, he said.

Iwan to a greater extent appealed to the media for support, expressing frustration at what he perceives as deliberate sidelining due to his lyrical choices. Through his own music, Iwan has tackled topics ranging from political corruption to the struggles of the marginalized, emphasizing the power of lyrics to spark conversations and provoke introspection.

He bemoaned that despite making collaborative efforts to promote his craft, he believes the media has not given him the recognition he deserves. Iwan emphasized that the media has not promoted him enough.

“The issue is always straightforward. The media is not promoting me. I am doing all I can, but I am not getting the support. The media have sidelined me, making it appear as if some of us are not trying.

“Some people don’t understand how a talented artist like Iwan is not gaining traction. Perhaps, they want us to conform to the trend of singing about immoral subjects, but I will always decline that and speak about positive issues that urgently need attention in our society”, he added