Ghanaian songstress, Sista Afia, has shed light on the struggles female artistes face in the music industry, citing societal pressures, gender biases, and the constant fears of rumours as major obstacles.
In a candid interview with Neat FM, the “Jeje” hitmaker disclosed how these challenges have shaped her career and forced her to maintain independence and caution in her professional relationships.
Sista Afia explained that the stress of being a female artiste is often due to the public’s tendency to speculate about their personal lives.
“Maybe it’s because I am a woman, I can’t mingle with a man for long. The moment I mingle with a man, rumours start flying that I have an affair with him,” she said.
This, she noted, limits opportunities for mentorship and collaboration, as female artistes are often hesitant to associate with male industry players to avoid being labelled or misrepresented.
“We can’t even have godfathers or male mentors. The moment we get one, rumours come out that the person is a sugar daddy,” she added.
Sista Afia emphasised that most of the stories about female artistes are based on speculations, recounting instances where innocent outings with male friends were misconstrued as romantic relationships.
The singer also highlighted the inappropriate advances some men make under the guise of offering help.
“A man can reach out to me and say, ‘Afia, I like you, I want to help you.’ They don’t say ‘I want to help you’; they start with ‘I like you.’ Then you know what they want,” she added.
This, she said, has made her cautious and determined to remain independent in her career.