HIGHLIFE musician, Kofi Boakye, popularly known as Kofi B has made a call to Ghanaians to discourage Dancehall because the genre is associated with violence.

Although there were concerns about the Dancehall culture of drugs, sex and violence, they have been heightened by the brawl between the camps of Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale at the 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) which came off on May 18.

Speaking with Showbiz on Monday, Kofi B said we were giving Dancehall music too much attention in Ghana.

“Dancehall is not our thing so I wonder why we give so much attention to a foreign genre which is characterised by violence. I was not surprised at what happened at the VGMA where Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy caused a scene on stage because that is what the genre is about,” he said.

Kofi B said since the inception of Highlife decades ago, no Highlife musician had pulled a gun in public or on stage or fought over who is supreme in that genre.

“Highlife is ours and we all need to rally behind it. Dancehall is foreign and if we continue encouraging it, things are going to get out of hand one day,” he said.

Kofi B has been off the music scene for about five years now and says he took a break to study emerging trends in the industry so he could come back big.

“I have been monitoring whatever is happening in our music industry and I have realised the content from these young musicians is not deep enough,” he added.

Kofi B blamed the media for encouraging “useless songs” in Ghana and ignoring the good ones. “Now it’s all about money and not talent. Once you have the money and you can influence DJs by greasing their palms, your song will be all over the place,” he explained.

He encouraged the likes of Bless, Bisa Kdei  and Kuami Eugene and said he would gladly collaborate with them because they are doing well.

Known for songs like Akua Donkor, Yaw Dompreh, Mmobrowa, Koforidua Flowers, Bantama Kofi Boakye among others, Kofi B said he was ready with his latest offering Adegyan.

“As a professional, you need to always keep your legacy at the highest level by releasing good songs all the time and that is what I have done over the years. My latest will be dropping in a few weeks and I can assure you that Ghanaians are going to love it,” he said.