The hustling and self-belief of Reggie n Bollie, the two X-Factor contestants who have excitedly made it to the finals have paid off—it takes a lot of guts and confidence to jump from ‘British Got Talent’ to the finals of ‘X-Factor’, especially when you failed to make it past the audition stage at the former.
Reggie n Bollie’s success story is grounded in perseverance and the ability to hold onto your dreams when everyone has forgotten about you—that’s what real hustlers do.
It’s great and somewhat inspiring to see these ambitious young men from Ghana having excelled this much at a global stage but we should not in anyway substitute their individual struggles for a national victory.
Soon, a political party would add Reggie n Bollie’s success story to their 2016 campaign, saying, it was under their leadership that two Ghanaians made it to UK’s X-factor’s finals. This is not beyond the confines of the ‘deranged’ political landscape in Ghana—we all know what our people are capable of doing.
Reggie Zippy and Bollie have struggled as solo artistes in Ghana—the nation could not cushion their talents or dreams in any substantive way so they were ‘forced’ to relocate to the UK in search of a better life for themselves and their families.
Now, it seems the better life has finally shown it face—and shocking, the same country that failed them on many levels, that could not support their individual musical careers as much as they needed has jumped to their neck, attempting to claim the little shine and glory coming their way.
Of course several Ghanaians around the world have supported Reggie n Bollie through their X-Factor journey, but those who have made them who they are today are the Brits, not the Ghanaians—or Ghana.
Yet, a portion of the social media space is making a fraudulent claim; sort of desperately trying to attribute the individual hard work ‘Reggie n Bollie’ have done to Ghana—saying, ‘Ghana is flying high’ and ‘Ghana is gloriously achieving’ among others. They are the not the Black stars; sponsored and hugely paid any appearance fees for their efforts.
Undeniably, the success of Reggie n Bollie is stimulating and every person around the world can learn a thing or two from it—including Ghanaians. But that’s where it ends, Ghana did nothing to make this happen and Ghana cannot in anyway be part of the story, except to say they are Ghanaians.
And on being Ghanaians, I am confident with time they will become British citizens, if they are not already one—because, it’s Britain that offered them a challenging opportunity to become what we see today.
There are several talents, much better ones still in Ghana and therefore if Ghana honestly wants to make an impact and take a deserving glory for it—it should invest in the creative arts sector, take it serious and provide numerous opportunities for these young men and women to make something for themselves.
That way, we can attribute the success to Ghana as the country that made it happen—for now, it’s not the business of Ghana, but Reggie n Bollie’s success story, made possible by the UK.
Let me add that, per X-Factor’s rules, only UK viewers are allowed to vote despite a loophole having been earlier found in the X-factor app voting system which could be manipulated by people abroad to vote. Even that, these votes are easily weeded out.
Therefore, where did the real Ghana support come in—considering the fact that the voters who sent these two men through are UK based, majorly non-Ghanaians?
True talk Chris… But remember Ghanians in UK also supported them by voting.. Just to let the boys know ..they have made us proud ?
I Just read the article & am like Christ! That’s why He is Chris Vincent! …plain incontrovertible fact !
And on the matter of the duo being Ghanians, well I have my doubts on that – perhaps we may want to claim that they are Ghanian by birth but for them to have stayed in the UK legally for the number of years that they have , they must probably have some permanent residence status or perhaps are dual citizens!
Ghanians are the Biggest Hypocrites & Sycophants ever known ; we begin from our homes & we shamelessly carry it further on to the international stage!
We don’t even try to produce our own talent and even if we do, we don’t support. One example is how the GFA goes about trying to convience European players with Ghanaian background who have represented their European countries at junior level to play for Ghana. Always trying to claiming.
Typical of Ghana. These boys were in Ghana for the majority of their lives. We did not make anything better out of them or give them any real support or opportunity.
Now they have found their feet somewhere through the help of X-factor, we are running around them. What happened to many mentor winners? Nkwasiasem.
We always want to reap where we did not sow
@Chris:
A personal question: Do you think that its Britain that made you what you are today due to the fact that u have studied in the UK (and still live there?)
And cant that same question not be applied to pple such as Kofi Annan, the majority of Ghanaian politicians and Africans living in the western world?
If “A” couldn’t get water to drink in his country and travels to Britain to look for water to drink and “A” is given what to drink in and by Britain, who gave “A” water to drink?
Then go beg for water like a slave from your masters. We in Ghana will always find a way feed ourselves like men.
Ghana is not is not a struggling and desperate country.stop disgracing the county…………we are fear better off many countries
co-sign
And there goes the song….ah can’t we all just support…and forget about the rest
so what, now x factor and the uk is the saviour of ghanaian music talent.. pleaaaseee
This is undeniably a nice write up by all standards but what are you trying to insinuate? Is it wrong for people living in Ghana to rally behind reggie and bollie just because they don’t reside in the UK too? Ohhh, I get it or maybe you mean to say that X- Factor is only for people living in the UK so people living in Ghana don’t have a right to contribute to discussions concerning it or even interfere.
Even if Ghanaians back home couldn’t vote doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate the efforts the boys made or aren’t proud to see them attain their current level. Please spare us all the criticsm and the sarcasms.
Should u come out with this statement,what difference would it be they were from Togo,Ghanains as a nation would support any artist who hails from Ghana irrespective of the country they excel in.
Don’t creat haters for these 2 young artist by your uncalled for post.
I cant recall any Ghanaian politian making propaganda on this or claiming their victory. When reggie and bolly were asked where they from. They said and i quote’ we are Ghanaian musicians and we wonna make it in the whole world. If we make it in x factor we can make it in the world. There are over 20,000 Ghanaians living in uk which we all supporting and masive votes from all the black race living in uk from different countries and British who are fun of them. Save ur long essay and lets rally behind them.
You are just a hater, some of us have been following Xfactor since it started and even when I moved to Ghana I haven’t missed an episode. Aren’t we allowed to support our own. I’m inspired by these two. why are you negative in your thinking and by stating that Ghana is attempting to steal success form the two. Can’t Ghanaians express their joy in seeing 2 of their own going forward. You are the kind of person who would sell your own country for peanuts.
Sincerely this article is only taking credit where it’s due. Ghana has supported Reggie n Bollie in so many ways. I don’t know whether Chris expected the president or anyone to pick and fill their nomination forms cos both guys have released albums in Ghana and were heavily patronized n supported by Ghanaians. In fact they were nominated for several awards. I still can remember Bollie for”now you may kiss the bride” and Reggie for “virgin”. They started and rose from here before they left the shores of Ghana. Ghanaians have prayed and some living in UK haves voted for them. Nana Addo n the minister of tourism have visited them. What else can we do sir?. I however agree with you that Ghana needs to invest more in the creative industry but let’s not begin to put ideas in the minds of the duo that Ghana had no hands in their success to make them unpatriotic when they get there. After all Ghana has never given citizens seed money nor a good ground to start but yet people make it through the rain.