Renowned figure in the music industry, Zapp Mallet, found himself in the midst of a social media storm recently after criticising and advising Afua Asantewaa to reconsider her pursuit of breaking the record for the longest individual singing marathon (Sing-A-Thon)
Mallet’s concern stemmed from his seasoned perspective as a music producer, where he astutely observed signs of vocal strain in Afua’s performances. His suggestion to address this issue involved a recommendation for a substantial meal, emphasizing the demanding nature of prolonged singing.
Expressing his views on X through a series of posts, Zapp Mallet subtly implied that Afua’s aspiration surpassed her current vocal capabilities. He underscored the rarity of such achievements, typically reserved for individuals with well-defined singing prowess. Afua, determined to surpass Indian singer Sunil Waghmare’s 105-hour singing marathon record from 2012, aimed to secure her place in the Guinness World Records by exceeding Waghmare’s 102-hour mark.
In response to Mallet’s comments, a wave of disappointment and criticism swept through social media, with many Ghanaians expressing discontent at what they perceived as a discouraging stance. Critics argued that, given Mallet’s influential position and extensive musical expertise, his role should be supportive rather than pessimistic. Even US-based Ghanaian gospel musician, Sonnie Badu, weighed in on the discussion.
Zapp Mallet’s Trail of Tweets Over Afua Asantewaa’s Sing-A-Thon’s Quest
Even professional singers won’t attempt a feat like this without a voice coach around to be coaching what to do. No strategy. Just play, I will sing. I feel for Afua paa.
— Zapp Mallet (@zapp_mallet) December 25, 2023
Herrhh! Find some heavy to eat. Singing is for the strong. Don’t let deceive you. Now you see you can’t even hit key? So so off key. All bcos you tire. Smh
— Zapp Mallet (@zapp_mallet) December 25, 2023
I’m feeling for the girl. She’s not singing.
— Zapp Mallet (@zapp_mallet) December 25, 2023
But she’s repeating songs now. 😳😳
— Zapp Mallet (@zapp_mallet) December 25, 2023
Guys, guys, guys, I’m so, so sorry. I just realized I was judging Afua Asantewaa so hard. Plz forgive me. ,🙏🙏🙏🙏I didn’t know the rules. But I said some of the things out of concern for her. Pls don’t get me wrong. I’m behind her just like every Ghanaian 🙏🙏🙏
— Zapp Mallet (@zapp_mallet) December 27, 2023
Afua Asantewaa’s ambitious Guinness World Record attempt kicked off at the Akwaaba Village in Accra on Sunday, December 24, at midnight, scheduled to conclude on December 27. Despite the social media controversy, various Ghanaian celebrities rallied in support of Asantewaa’s sing-a-thon, showcasing a united front for her monumental undertaking. Meet Sunil Waghmare, the current Guinness World record holder, stands as a testament to the magnitude of the challenge Asantewaa has chosen to embrace.
