Music comprises three fundamental elements: the beat, the vocals, and the lyrics. Lyrics are crafted and then transformed into vocal melodies, blending seamlessly with instrumental accompaniments to create music.

Many talented artists possess the unique ability to spontaneously create music without the need for written lyrics, relying on freestyling. Conversely, some artists prefer to meticulously pen down their words to maintain control and avoid unintended consequences in their songs. Remarkably, some individuals are blessed primarily with the gift of singing, while others excel in the art of songwriting, giving rise to the concept of collaborative songwriting.

The concept of an external songwriter crafting lyrics for an artist to bring to life through their vocals has gained traction. In Ghana, notable artists such as Akwaboah, Kuami Eugene, Kidi, King Promise, and others have ventured into songwriting for fellow musicians. However, there is a prevailing perception that artists who engage songwriters lack talent, overshadowing the significant contributions of these writers. Regrettably, songwriters often go unrecognized, with their work overshadowed by the public's fixation on whether the artist can write their own songs.

As a result, songwriters in Ghana have not received the full recognition they deserve. A simple Google search fails to yield prominent Ghanaian songwriters, although there is an existing association of songwriters in the country. Even on streaming platforms, artists often fail to credit songwriters properly, leaving their invaluable contributions unacknowledged.

Kuami Eugene, a prolific songwriter in Ghana, recently disclosed in an interview that he co-wrote Mr. Drew's latest song 'Case.' However, he did not receive the due credit he deserved, as Mr. Drew omitted his name from the song credits on streaming platforms like Spotify. This situation underscores the need to address the issue of proper accreditation for songwriters and collaborators.

It is disheartening to hear artists casually mention, 'Person X wrote the song for me,' or 'I co-wrote the song with Person Y,' without proper credits appearing in the song's metadata. This oversight extends to performers and backing vocalists. This situation raises questions about the contracts and discussions that take place among artists before engaging in songwriting collaborations, particularly within the same industry.

Music, in all its forms, is deeply spiritual, and inspiration cannot be stifled by contract negotiations. Artists often find themselves parking their cars mid-drive to jot down lyrics or record a melody when inspiration strikes. It should not be an artist's responsibility to draft contracts before sharing their creative input with fellow artists; rather, this falls within the purview of managers and professionals in the industry.

In conclusion, I urge all artists and artist managers to take songwriting credits seriously. The focus should be on enjoying the music and not engaging in petty disputes over essential matters like proper crediting.