Keeny Ice
Ghanaian rapper, Keeny Ice, has claimed that a local radio station once refused to play his music because the lyrics were in the local dialect, Ewe.
Speaking on Hitz FM with Doreen Avio and DJ Slim, the artist from the Volta Region said he approached a radio station (which he did not name) with one of his songs, but it was turned down due to the language.
“I went to a radio station and somebody told me, ‘We can’t play an Ewe song. I don’t understand what you say in the song,’” he alleged.
Keeny Ice believes this reflects a broader issue in the Ghanaian music industry, where songs in less widely spoken local languages face challenges in gaining mainstream acceptance.
He pointed out that languages like Twi, Fante, and Akan dominate the industry, making it harder for artists who perform in Ewe, Dagbani, or other indigenous tongues.
He explained that although he is an Ewe, he doesn’t always perform in his native language. “I have songs that don’t have any Ewe words,” he added.
He also commented on the shift among Ghanaian rappers towards singing and danceable music, saying that financial opportunities often go to Afrobeat and commercial artists rather than traditional rappers.
Keeny Ice, who has released songs such as Deja Vu, Sound Check, My Way, and Aya, is set to release his new EP titled “Ice Cold” today, May 30, 2025.