The music industry often thrives on collaboration, trust, and mutual respect, but it also has its share of strained relationships and untold stories.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has shared a deeply personal account of betrayal and gratitude during an interview, highlighting the complexities of his journey as a music producer.
Speaking on Adom TV, Okraku-Mantey recounted his fractured relationship with Lord Kenya, a former rap icon turned pastor.
“A lot of artistes in the country have hurt me bitterly, but the one I can’t easily forget was Lord Kenya’s,” he said, his tone reflecting both pain and nostalgia. “I took him like a brother; we even slept in the same room those days.”
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Lord Kenya, who dominated Ghana’s rap scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s, allegedly caused significant damage to Okraku-Mantey’s reputation during their professional association.
“He has apologized to me before on radio, so I don’t want to go deep into it,” Okraku-Mantey explained. “But he tarnished my reputation to the point where people would approach me in Kumasi and say, ‘So you are the one cheating the musicians.’”
The incident underscores the fragile dynamics of trust in the music business. Okraku-Mantey, known for producing hits that defined an era, found himself at the center of accusations that he felt were unwarranted and deeply hurtful.
Yet, amidst the bitterness, Okraku-Mantey also recalled moments of unexpected gratitude.
He shared a touching memory involving the late highlife legend, Daasebre Gyamenah. Despite their strained relationship, Gyamenah publicly acknowledged Okraku-Mantey’s contributions during an awards ceremony.
“In as much as Daasebre Gyamenah was not talking to me, he took an award and, while on stage, thanked me for my effort,” Okraku-Mantey said with a mix of pride and emotion. “He even went on Joy FM some days later and repeated the same thing.”
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