Reggie Rockstone, a prominent figure in the Ghanaian Hiplife music genre, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of recognition he has received. Speaking on Class 91.3 FM’s ‘The Big Show’ on April 15, 2023 Rockstone argued that the Hiplife movement he led in the 90s inspired today’s popular Afrobeats genre, and that he and others who contributed to the movement deserve a share of its success.
Rockstone lamented that he frequently gets asked in interviews if he feels duly recognised, suggesting that this question wouldn’t arise if he had received the recognition he deserved.
“We’re eligible for a slice of that pie because we worked for it,” he added, later bemoaning that were he adequately celebrated, he would repeatedly not be asked in interviews if he feels duly recognised.
“If everything had been put right, you would not have asked this question, would you have?””It seems you [Nana Kwesi] can realise that this guy’s [Rockstone] story and praise have not been duly broadcast,” he said.
However, he maintained that his confidence remains unshaken because he is a “very confident older African” who has always been self-assured.
Rockstone acknowledged that the lack of recognition he has received is a common experience for people like him, citing the adage that “a prophet is not respected in his own hometown.” He believes that he and others like him are “sacrificial” and were brought up to contribute to their countries and communities.
“So, I totally understand it.People like me and many others, we are sacrificial,” he added. “That’s [how] we [were] brought up [and] brought here to do.
“And I guess, many many [years after] when I’m gone is when people might actually see all that I really did for Africa, the world or my country,” he posited.
Credit: pulse.com.gh
