Mafikizolo's ''khona'' Rules In Ghana

I have gone to different nightclubs, pubs, joints and other social places and gatherings and one thing is very clear; the song ''Khona'' is played almost everywhere and enjoyed by both the young and the old.''Khona'' is even played on many radio stations and television stations.

Mafikizolo

 In as much as most people do not understand a word in the song, anytime it's played, people try to sing along and dance to it. As a matter of fact, the song ''khona'' is a big hit in the country and I find it very difficult to understand why that is the case.
  
''Khona'' is a song by Mafikizolo which is an Afro-pop group from South Africa. Mafikizolo is made up of Nhlanhla Nciza and Theo Kgosinkwe. In as much as many Ghanaians enjoy the song, the song was sang in the Zulu language which many Ghanaians do not understand. ''Khona'' which features Uhuru is one of the tracks on Mafikizolo's ''Reunited'' album which was released in February, 2013.''Khona'' simply means '' there'' or ''at that place''.
 
As at October 4, 2013 at 10:50pm when I checked on youtube.com, I realized the ''khona'' music video had recorded 831,012 views just within five months. The music video has also been nominated in the 2013 4Syte TV Music Video Awards for the Best African Act Video award. This gives a clear understanding and picture of how accepted 'khona' has become worldwide.

I believe anything African should be embraced by every African. I am happy that ''Khona'' is enjoyed by everybody but I am a bit worried about a phenomenon that is creeping into our entertainment industry. I am quite certain that many radio presenters or Djs who play ''khona'' religiously have not been paid any payola to do so. Notwithstanding the fact that they have not been paid any dime, they seem to be promoting the song so much to the detriment of Ghana-made songs.
 
I stand to be corrected but I am forced to believe that many radio presenters or DJ's who are promoting ''khona'' are doing so much more than for  the Ghana-made songs for which the artistes have even paid huge amounts of cash as payola.
  
There are many artistes who have very good songs but do not have their songs played on radio but here we are, we promote a song from South Africa and leave behind our own songs. Is it not a disgrace? Is it the right thing to do? ''Khona'' is a nice song but I believe our priority should be geared towards promoting any good Ghana-made song first of all before we promote works from other countries.

Radio presenters and djs can continue playing the khona track but they should not forget to also promote songs of Ghanaian artistes for which they have been paid payola and even any good song from any Ghanaian artiste even without the payment of payola.  Let's love and promote our own before we do so for others.                                                               
                                          By  Elvis Rancey Baidoo