Here comes Joe Wizzy with ‘Collect the Borla, Process the Borla’
Ghanaian musician Bright Appiah Quaye, with stage name Joe Wizzy, is using his music to raise awareness about sanitation issues in the country.
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His latest song, Collect the Borla, Process the Borla, tackles the problem head-on, advocating for better waste management and recycling practices.
“We move around and see filth dumped anywhere,” says Wizzy. “This inspired me to do a song...it's an advocacy song that I've released this year. The song calls for a two-pronged approach, responsible waste disposal and effective waste processing.
He emphasises the importance of proper waste bins to prevent littering and highlights the potential of recycling to not only clean communities but also create economic opportunities.
“We can recycle the waste so it's not just waste or filth, but we can recycle it to make money," he explains. "The plastic and the polythene that is thrown around, people can recycle it for different things.
He hopes his Collect the Borla, Process the Borla will reach the ears of relevant authorities. "I want the authorities, such as the Sanitation Ministry, to know that a musician has taken up a cause to sing about what is happening in our communities. They should also take the responsibility to provide waste bins at vantage points."
Wizzy's commitment to social good shines through his work with Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) where he has served in various roles including Greater Accra Regional Secretary.
In 2012, as Ghana geared up for elections, he recognised the potential for music to promote peace. He took the initiative to organise a group of 21 prominent musicians, including renowned Gospel act Empress Gifty Adorye to sing about peace.
Together, they created and performed Nations Peace Song, a song advocating for a peaceful elections. The song's impact resonated, earning Peace Song of the Year,for the Ghana Peace Council at the Ghana Peace Awards 2017.
In 2020, as Ghana approached general election again,Joe Weezy didn't hesitate to revisit the initiative. He rebranded the project as The Nation Peace Project and collaborated with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
This collaboration culminated in a well-attended concert at the GBC forecourt, further amplifying the message of peace.
Joe Wizzy's efforts extended beyond the concert. He recognised the power of existing peace songs by individual musicians.
He brought together MUSIGA members with peace-themed songs, compiling them into an album. The MGA Nation Peace Album. The album launched in 2020 at the Mikkado Conference Center, serves as a lasting resource for promoting peace during elections and beyond.
"The union has an album to show as a blueprint for advocating for peace," Joe Wizzy says with pride, reflecting on his achievements with MUSIGA,” he said.
