Ghanaian-American singer, Ama Serwah Genfi otherwise known as Amaarae, has revealed that people often confuse her identity with that of a Nigerian.
In an interview with Pulse where she talked about the confusion around her identity, the music star said it’s because her music sells more in Nigeria.
Amaarae also explained that it often happens because she’s mostly surrounded by Nigerians.
She said, “It started in college, I think. All my friends were Nigerian, my roommate was Nigerian, all my friends that I would go to club with… 98% of people I used to be around were Nigerian.
“I had an interview recently and I had to tell my Nigerian interviewer that I was Ghanaian, not Nigerian and they were like, ‘Oh my God’ [laughs].”
Talking about a Vogue Magazine article that named her as one of the four women challenging the norm in Nigeria, Amaarae explained: “When they were doing that article, the whole premise of it was supposed to be ‘The Alte Artists of Now.’ The article was meant to cover me, Odunsi, Cruel Santino, and Tems.
“There was no discussion around the content being used for [that Vogue piece]. I didn’t even know till I saw it and chunks of my interview were left out and they said that they had to fix it.
“That said, I actually do identify with who I am as a Ghanaian and I don’t try to hide it. There’s just been this sweep that makes Nigeria identity with my music more than Ghana. You know how they say, ‘Go where you’re loved?’ It’s my Nigerian audience that’s giving me ginger everyday [laughs], strategy suggests that I follow that.
“They are streaming and posting the album… Girls are dancing to it in Nigeria. It’s now almost like my identity is getting confusing [laughs].
“But when you’re talking about my locale, which is Ghana, I don’t think I have gotten ⅛ of the love and acceptance that I’ve gotten from Nigeria. I’m not denying my identity, it’s just that the connection to Nigeria is so thick. My team now even has a majority of Nigerians, you know.”
