William Lamptey, popularly known as Willie Chembez, shared powerful insights on the future of Africa’s creative economy during an exclusive interview with Business Day TV on December 5th, 2025.
In the conversation, Willie highlighted how talent, authentic storytelling, and creative innovation are becoming major drivers of economic growth across the continent, while also opening up opportunities for young creatives and investors alike.
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According to Willie Chembez, Africa’s creative industry, especially the film sector, is experiencing a long-awaited awakening. He noted that although global creative industries have long been flourishing, Africa is only now beginning to gain momentum. “A few years ago, the patronage for theatre arts in Africa, particularly in Ghana, was very low,” he recalled. “But today, things are changing. We are filling theatres and seeing audiences respond with enthusiasm whenever we call for shows.”
He reflected on the pre-COVID era, describing it as a period of rapid growth and rising investor interest. However, the pandemic became a significant setback, forcing the entire industry to rebuild from the ground up. Despite this challenge, he emphasized that the resilience of African creatives has reignited the sector’s growth, with renewed investments and increasing visibility across industries.
When discussing filmmaking standards, Willie Chembez praised the remarkable improvements in quality and production across Africa. He believes the continent is finally stepping into global recognition due to the rising professionalism of its filmmakers. “This is the time for Africans, especially Ghanaians, to push harder and elevate our craft so we can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global industry leaders,” he said.
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Willie also addressed the importance of global visibility in African storytelling. To him, authenticity is the foundation. He stressed that Africans are the most qualified to tell their own stories because only they fully understand their heritage, struggles, culture, and identity. “The world doesn’t know who we truly are until we show them,” he emphasized. He praised the recent wave of captivating African stories, explaining that they offer international audiences a fresh kind of entertainment they have never experienced before.
He described this unique storytelling style as the “spice” currently driving global interest in African content.
Willie Chembez further expressed excitement about the growth of performance and production quality in the industry. Compared to the past, when resources, skills, and compelling stories were limited, today’s creative environment is flourishing. The tools are available, the talent is strong, and the standards now meet global expectations. With increasing investment and a deliberate focus on quality, Willie believes the African film industry is on a clear path to sustainable growth and international success.
Ghanaian musician Emperor T-Jiga has added another major international honour to his career after winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the 2026 Ghana Music Awards Europe in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The recognition comes after years of creating music that blends Afrobeat, highlife, hiplife, hip hop and other African musical influences while connecting audiences in Ghana and the diaspora.
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For Emperor T-Jiga, the award is a reflection of a musical journey that has produced a catalogue of songs including Kilode, Yeloi, Sugar, Super Star, Pretty Jeniki, Saka Saka and Fine Fine Lady. His music has continued to showcase his versatility as a singer, songwriter, performer, drummer, producer and teaching artist.
One of the records that has played an important role in his recent recognition is Super Star, featuring Bepor Keddi and Cabrinny Gh. The song previously earned Emperor T-Jiga the Hiplife and Hip Hop Song of the Year award at the 2025 Ghana Music Awards USA, giving him another major milestone within the Ghanaian diaspora music community.
His catalogue, however, extends beyond Super Star.
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Kilode, featuring Young Freezy, became another important record in his career and won Best International Collaboration at the 2022 Ghana Music Awards USA. The song also received a nomination for US Based Afropop Song of the Year.
Yeloi, featuring Kotey Another and Nii Funny, further demonstrated his ability to work across different sounds and collaborators. The song was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA.
In 2023, Emperor T-Jiga released Sugar, a record influenced by the sounds of African music pioneers including Osibisa and Fela Kuti. The song was subsequently nominated for Afropop/Afrobeat Song of the Year at the 2024 Ghana Music Awards USA.
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His more recent work has continued to expand his musical identity. Awula Feefeo has been featured among his recent releases, while his official YouTube catalogue also includes Fine Fine Lady.
Beyond his recordings, Emperor T-Jiga’s musical background gives further context to his sound. He is also an accomplished drummer, dancer, producer and music educator, with a career that has involved African music and cultural education in the United States. His work with the Akwaaba Ensemble has also allowed him to combine performance, education and cultural preservation.
That combination of musicianship and cultural identity has become an important part of Emperor T-Jiga’s artistic journey. His music does not simply seek to entertain but also draws from African rhythms, experiences and influences while presenting them to audiences in the diaspora.
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His latest achievement in Düsseldorf therefore represents another step in a career that has consistently crossed geographical and musical boundaries.
Winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards Europe places Emperor T-Jiga among the artistes helping to carry Ghanaian music and African sounds into international spaces.
As the celebrations continue, the award adds another significant chapter to his story and provides further momentum for an artiste whose music, performances and cultural work continue to reach audiences beyond Ghana.