Grammy Wasn’t Made for Us—Let’s Value Our Own Awards, Says Rex Omar
Veteran musician urges Ghanaians to respect local award schemes and build globally respected platforms
- Rex Omar, is calling on Ghanaian artistes to shift their focus toward local award schemes
- Rex Omar emphasized that the Grammy Awards were created to recognize American talent—not African musicians
- Rex Omar further encouraged stakeholders in the creative industry to collaborate
Veteran Ghanaian musician and Presidential Staffer for the Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, is calling on Ghanaian artistes to shift their focus toward local award schemes and stop chasing validation from foreign platforms like the Grammys.
Rex Omar emphasized that the Grammy Awards were created to recognize American talent—not African musicians—and that it’s time Ghanaians placed more value on their own systems.
“Sometimes when I hear people talk, I don’t understand. The Grammys were not created for us,” he said. “If you disrespect the Ghana Music Awards and focus only on the Grammys, it doesn’t make sense. That award was made for Americans.”
He likened the Grammy situation to other U.S.-based platforms such as BET, which were also developed for American audiences. According to Rex Omar, Ghanaian musicians need to believe in and uplift their own structures.
“We must start believing in ourselves and in the things we do here in Ghana,” he stressed.
Rex Omar further encouraged stakeholders in the creative industry to collaborate and build a world-class award scheme that could eventually attract international participation.
“If we develop our own prestigious awards and do it well, artists from other countries will want to be part of it,” he said. “It’s about more than just collecting trophies—it’s about creating value and pride in what’s ours.”
