Victor Essiet of The Mandators fame is a popular veteran Reggae artiste known for his hit songs in the late 1980s.He says Reggae music can be used as a vehicle to educate and change the mindset of people
He says there are different genres of music that people enjoy, but it must educate, inform and help change the populace positively as well as entertain. He affirms that Reggae music isn’t dying,but the media has decided to focus on promoting only hip-hop.
“The media focuses more on hip-hop music than other genre of music, which is why it seems that it is dying.You must understand that with all the different kinds of music, if you do not bring it to the people, they would only make do with what is available.Remember that the people never really left the music, but it is because the music has not been given that platform to shine as others”.
According to him, there is the need for the media to carry out researches to know the music that imparts on the lives of the people.
“A few people do have the exposure or the possibility of bringing it to the public but it is not noticed.So, now that we are getting it promoted in our little way, a lot of people are happy that we have a variety of music”.
The musician stated that a lot of people believed that ‘hip hop’ music was loved by everyone, adding `it is not true’’.
“Reggae music has been and will always be there. If the media can push it as they are pushing other genre of music it will sell.”
