At least obtain a 1st Degree to avoid hardship in life. – Yaw Kwarteng strongly advises young musicians

Ghanaian musician and comedian Yaw Kwarteng, who currently lives in London , has shared his belief that musicians should aim to earn a first degree as part of their formal education.

On Tuesday, July 11th, Yaw Kwarteng posted on Facebook, urging musicians to pursue a degree, and questioning why many musicians in Ghana avoid formal education. He explained that his own lack of a degree caused him to miss many opportunities early in his career. 

Yaw Kwarteng, who eventually graduated from the University of Winneba with a degree in Music, emphasized the importance of education for musicians. He stated, “As an instrumentalist, at least try and get a first degree. Most instrumentalists are afraid of getting formal education.”

Yaw’s message sparked mixed reactions. Some people agreed with him, others disagreed, and some made fun of his stance. Having played music professionally for over 20 years, touring various countries and collaborating with renowned artistes and bands, Yaw shared his personal experiences in a follow-up post. He mentioned that people often misunderstood his intentions, but he maintained that his experiences as an instrumentalist without a degree were challenging until he changed his perspective. “I write, then others take it out of context. I’ve been an instrumentalist for more than 20 years and I’ve been a victim before until I changed some narrative about how I think,” he wrote.

Despite the controversies, Yaw Kwarteng firmly advised upcoming musicians to pursue a first degree to avoid missing significant opportunities and to prepare for a stable future. He also advised young musicians to find additional careers to support themselves financially and to manage their money wisely.

In his conclusion, Yaw warned young musicians about the dangers of depression, regret, frustration, and negative influences. “Take my advice, young musicians. I have been there before, and many are in it…but they are not telling you the truth.”

As the proverb goes, “A wise man learns from the mistakes of others, but a fool learns from his own.”

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