The Executive Director of Yebetumi, a women’s rights organisation, Abena Benewaa Fosu, is raising concerns over the alarming rate of gender-based violence and paedophilia in the country.
Speaking in an interview on May 22, 2024, with TV3’s New Day, Abena Benewaa demanded that Obour’s 2004 song, “Konkontiba” be banned. The female activist suggested that the song should not be played anywhere since it encourages paedophilia and the grooming of young girls in society.
She goes on to reference some controversial lines in the song which according to her, champions paedophilia.
“Aboa konkontiba, aboa konkontiba, Ɔrebɛnyini ayɛ kɛse na wadane apɔnkyerɛni”.
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She claims that the song’s line means “catch them young and they shall be yours forever,” encourages “grown men grooming little girls and promotes paedophilia.”
Obour's Konkontibaa should be banned because it promotes pedophilia – Abena Benewaa Fosu#TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/9XYdoqBuxM
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) May 22, 2024
She emphasised that other pop culture songs do have verses promoting sexual violence against women and have been normalised in the music industry, urging for action against such acts.
“We listen to these things, it is part of pop culture so we listen to them, we internalise them and it becomes so normal to us that we don’t see anything wrong with it,” she said.
She emphasised that other pop culture songs have lyrics promoting sexual violence against women and have been normalised in the music industry, urging for action against such acts.
“There is another song that says, I have bought food for you and you don’t want to follow me home…meaning if you take a girl out to dinner she has to automatically sleep with you. That is one way of making men feel entitled to women’s bodies. And so if she says no he is going to rape her,” she added.
For this reason, Abena Benewaa wants the song banned in the country as part of efforts against Gender-based violence in the country.
Yebetumi is a feminist nonprofit organisation that works to empower women and girls of all backgrounds with knowledge and skills, as well as to create spaces where they can exercise their rights.
Yebetumi also offers intersectionality, diversity, solidarity, and inclusion in relation to reproductive health and rights, gender-positive sexuality, education, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, leadership and political participation, and economic justice.
