Ghana hooked on dancehall, says AK Songstress

Ghana-based dancehall artiste AK Songstress says dancehall music has been creating waves in her country.

According to the recording artiste, who recently collaborated with legendary reggae artiste Sizzla Kalonji for a record titled Ghetto Cry, Ghana is currently leading the pack in Africa for dancehall.

"Dancehall is doing well in Ghana, and I believe, right now, Ghana is the leader in Africa when it comes to dancehall. I have been listening to reggae and dancehall since I was a child, and it has only grown from strength to strength," she said.

AK Songstress also said dancehall music is so powerful in Ghana that a new subgenre has developed called afro-dancehall. This is quite similar to the genre's influence on reggaeton in the Latin market.

"Doing hardcore Jamaican dancehall doesn't really work for the African market. Hence, we have adopted what we term afro-dancehall, which is commercially viable and easily accepted in Africa. I do both Jamaica style dancehall and the afro kind, and I hope to break the Jamaican style of dancehall into the African market as an African lady," she told THE STAR.

AK Songstress is currently working with Ghana-based record label Paradise Entertainment, and hopes Ghetto Cry will bring her close to the Jamaican fanbase.

"My music impacts lives, and it's also very entertaining. I am here for the long haul. We have a plan in place which we are pursuing and it is confidential, trust me. It's work in progress, and we are on course," she said.

AK Songstress will also visit the island in the coming weeks to get a better understanding of the Jamaican culture.