Reggae and Dancehall artist Samini has spoken out about the technical difficulties that disrupted his performance at the recently concluded Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards.
Speaking in an interview on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Samini revealed that he was not originally billed to perform at the event but decided to step in after receiving a last-minute call from a friend who currently serves as the GJA President.
“I originally was not billed to perform at that show. My friend is the current President of the GJA. I was out of town, and when I got back two days before the event, he called, so that’s why I went there,” he explained.
According to the award-winning artist, the main challenge during his performance was faulty stage monitors, which made it difficult for him to hear himself and the band clearly.
“For a live performer, you should expect glitches here and there because it’s a live event. With this incident, my monitors on stage were off,” Samini shared.
He added that technical issues are common in live performances, and experienced musicians often have to adapt quickly to maintain professionalism.
“This is not the first time I’ve been on stage where the stage monitors don’t work. Sometimes you have to communicate with the engineer through the mic — even if it sounds harsh — just to get things fixed before continuing,” he noted.
Samini also clarified that the organisers had planned for live performances and had officially booked other artists, including Akwaboah, for the night.
Due to the malfunctioning monitors, Samini said he had to end his set strategically to avoid an awkward scene.
“You have to find a strategic way to exit nicely. Before leaving, I constructively said I would have done more if the monitors were working. I suggested meeting at dinner, but I wasn’t even there for that. I just had to find something to say so I could exit,” he concluded.
Despite the hiccups, Samini expressed no hard feelings toward the organisers, emphasising that technical challenges are part of live music and that every performer must learn to manage such moments with grace.
