Gasmilla Questions Why Azonto Is Not Recognised as a Music Genre in Ghana

Ghanaian musician Gasmilla has questioned why Azonto has not been formally recognised as a music genre by the people and industry that helped create and popularise it.

Speaking on TV3, the musician, known for his association with the Azonto movement, argued that the dance and its accompanying sound deserve recognition as a distinct genre of music.

“Why is Azonto still not a genre of music recognised by the people it came from? Just make it a genre of music,” he said.

Gasmilla’s comments have brought renewed attention to discussions about the identity, recognition and long-term development of Azonto, a Ghanaian music and dance movement that gained widespread popularity in the early 2010s.

The movement became known for its energetic rhythms, catchy songs and distinctive dance steps, with Ghanaian musicians and dancers helping to spread it beyond the country’s borders. Azonto also became a major part of Ghana’s contemporary pop culture, attracting attention on social media and at music events internationally.

Despite its popularity, Gasmilla’s remarks raise questions about how Ghana’s music industry defines Azonto. While it is widely associated with a dance style and a period of musical success, the musician believes it should also be recognised as a genre in its own right.

Such recognition could help distinguish Azonto’s musical identity and encourage more discussion about how Ghanaians document, promote, and preserve their sounds for future generations.