Being a music manager necessitates drive, determination, and a profound love for music. To excel as a music manager, one must be organized, adept with people, and possess a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s current landscape. Mathias Darko, better known as Gariba, embodies the qualities of a skilled manager who has adeptly handled music affairs for several years.
Mathias Darko, also an artiste manager, has voiced his concerns about the perceived unfair treatment of upcoming artistes by event organizers in Ghana.
He contends that event organizers exhibit significant bias towards established acts, resulting in a disproportionate representation of well-established artists at most events.
Gariba, who also runs a restaurant, does not consider himself a celebrity but rather a diligent artiste manager committed to executing tasks efficiently and effectively.
In a conversation with this writer, he expressed frustration over the sidelining of upcoming talents, noting that this trend has been detrimental to the music industry. As a response, his company plans to host concerts in Accra and Kumasi annually, focusing specifically on showcasing new acts.
The objective of these concerts, he explained, is to assemble Ghana’s finest upcoming and new artistes on a single stage, providing fans with exhilarating performances.
Furthermore, Gariba disclosed that a portion of the proceeds from these shows will be reinvested to support their own projects and initiatives.
Notable music personalities Gariba has worked with as part of management teams include Empress Gifty, Ras Kuuku, Bullet, Tripcy, and many others.