I used to be ashamed to be African – Fuse ODG

As a black African growing up in the UK, Afro beats singer, Fuse ODG had been embarrassed by the negative portrayal of the African continent.

The poor images and the never-ending negative news about his ancestral home affected his ego and pride.

Narrating his experience on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review on Saturday, November 24, the Azonto hitmaker said he was ashamed to be Ghanaian as a child.

According to him, he was embarrassed and let down of the negative perception about Africa in the Diaspora and as such, it became difficult to tell people of his country of origin.

“At a point in time, I was so ashamed that I couldn’t even tell people that I was Ghanaian because there was so much negative news about Africa.

“However, with time, I appreciated Africa’s greatness and I am very proud to be an indigene.

“I realised that music is a powerful tool for development and with such a platform, I can lead a campaign to erase the negative perceptions about Africa and that was how my This is New Africa( TINA) started with my music,” he stated.

Since 2012, Fuse ODG has been committed to promoting Africa and its rich culture and has always been a priority for UK based Ghanaian Afro beats artiste.

Fuse ODG, who recently released his ‘Bra Fie’ song featuring Reggae star, Damian Marley, hopes to intensify his African campaign with a festival dubbed Tinafest in January next year.

The purpose of the festival is to use music and the arts to re-orient the mentality of Africans and encourage themto take pride in their heritage and identity.

Planned for Friday, January 4, 2019, Tinafest is also intended to change the bad narratives about Africa and to also trumpet her achievements in the arts.

Even though he is not based in Ghana, Fuse ODG has continuously raised the consciousness for Africans to be proud of their identity through his TINA (This is the New Africa) campaigns.

He has endlessly sold Africa and its talents through his music videos and the upcoming show in January will create a bigger avenue to serve the purpose.

Real name Nana Richard Abiona, Fuse ODG is best known for his 2013 single Antenna which peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.

Among the many awards he has to his credit are Urban Music Award Best Afrobeats Artiste in 2012 and Best Afro Pop Song at the 2013 Ghana Music Awards.