Ghanaian dancehall and reggae artist Epixode has addressed recent comments made by Lord Kenya, a former secular musician turned pastor, who criticized the use of patois by younger Ghanaian musicians, describing their usage as “not proper Patois.”
Speaking during an interview with Nana Romeo on Okay FM in Accra, Epixode responded with a call for mutual respect and recognition of the evolving creative expressions in Ghana’s music scene.
“Well, I won’t get it 100%. It may sound cliché to native Jamaicans. It’s like a Ga like me trying to speak Twi,” Epixode admitted, acknowledging that local interpretations of patois may not be fully authentic.
The artist, known for his distinctive reggae sound and frequent use of patois in his lyrics, emphasized that the use of the dialect is part of a broader artistic expression and not necessarily a claim to linguistic purity.
“What we speak here is not really patois. No disrespect, but some of these comments make the young ones feel disrespected. They’ll say, ‘In your prime, we respected you, so why are you trying to discredit our hard work now?’ That becomes a problem,” he explained.
Epixode stressed that emerging artists should be viewed as building on the foundations laid by earlier generations, rather than undermining them.
“I don’t want to say much about this, but sometimes they should see us as continuing their legacy. If not, the next generation will find themselves constantly at odds with their predecessors. It shouldn’t be that way. Let’s just enjoy music—whether it’s patois or not,” he said.
He also cited the legendary Kojo Antwi as an example of a successful Ghanaian reggae artist who made timeless music without relying on patois.
“Most of Kojo Antwi’s reggae songs aren’t in patois, yet they’re legendary tracks that generations will continue to enjoy. The language barrier isn’t the real issue,” Epixode added.
Despite disagreeing with Lord Kenya’s remarks, Epixode acknowledged the former hiplife star’s influence on his own performance style and expressed his appreciation for his contribution to Ghanaian music.
