Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to construct a concise historical narrative
of the formation, development, survival and internationalisation of
the Ghana Bigshots Band. It is quite unusual for a pop band to emerge
from a Ghanaian university and still survive after school, considering
both the academic and industry challenges. The Ghana Bigshots
Band, arguably Ghana’s first modern ‘Afro-fusion’ band emerged
from a university and came to international prominence. The band
has broken the myth of the ‘ivory tower’, where the academia
disassociates itself from the realities of the society. Employing
interview and documentary research for data collection, the paper
consequently unravels that the transition from students’ pop band
to a trans-African international band was capital intensive. However,
the consistency of maintaining an African identity in the band’s
compositions and the ideology of blending tradition and modernity
accounted for its survival and internationalisation. This study, is, therefore, recommended as a roadmap for student-musicians who wish
to take their craft beyond the academic enclave.
